Optimized low power air circulation in HVAC systems

A method comprising:

• receiving a first call to heat an environment,
• in response to receiving the first call to heat the environment, activate a furnace and an impeller such that the impeller turns at a first speed in a first direction causing air to be drawn into the impeller along a first axis and directed along a second axis through the furnace into the environment, the first axis perpendicular to the second axis;
• receiving a second call to circulate air in the environment;
• and
• in response to receiving the second call to circulate air in the environment, activate the impeller such that the impeller turns at a second speed in a second direction causing air to be drawn into the impeller along a first axis and directed along a second axis into the environment while the furnace is deactivated, wherein the second speed is slower than the first speed and the second direction is opposite the first direction.

A system comprising:

• an air conditioner;
• an blower comprising an impeller operable to draw in air along a first axis and direct the air along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis into an environment through the air conditioner;
• and
• a controller operable to:
• in response to receiving a first call to cool the environment, activate the air conditioner and the impeller such that the impeller turns at a first speed in a first direction causing air to be drawn into the impeller along a first axis and directed along a second axis through the air conditioner into the environment;
• and
• in response to receiving a second call to circulate air in the environment, activate the impeller such that the impeller turns at a second speed in a second direction causing air to be drawn into the impeller along the first axis and directed along the second axis and into the environment while the air conditioner is deactivated, wherein the second speed is slower than the first speed and the second direction is opposite the first direction.