Alternatives to Evaporative Coolers

Effectiveness and Humidity

• Evaporative coolers are widely used in drier climates such as in the southwest desert where indoor temperatures can be reduced by more than 20 degrees. For instance, 95 degrees Fahrenheit and a relative humidity of 15 percent will yield a temperature of 72 degrees using the cooler, but a temperature of 95 degrees and 50 percent relative humidity only cools to 84 degrees.

Conventional Air Conditioning

• A conventional window-unit or central air conditioner is the most effective choice for humid climates where an evaporative cooler won't work. Air conditioners remove moisture from the air and cool at the same time, so outside relative humidity is much less of a factor. The primary drawback to traditional air conditioning is the cost in both installation and electrical use, and to a lesser extent, space for smaller homes. Portable cooling devices provide some relief since they cool in the same way as a window unit air conditioner. They can be wheeled from room to room offering cooling as needed, but the hot air must be removed from the building, requiring a hose venting outside. This tethers the device near a window and provides potential for air leaks where pests and rain can enter the home.

Air Cooler Plus

• The Air Cooler Plus is a portable cooling device which does not require an outside vent for the warm air to escape. An innovative approach uses ice packs to provide cooling before exhaust air enters the room. Since it does not use a compressor like a regular air conditioner, energy consumption is the same as a 60-watt light bulb. However, this device is intended as a supplemental cooler for a single room and not as a primary whole-house device.

Coolerado Air Conditioner

• The Coolerado unit is a patented and dramatically improved version of an evaporative cooler. The concept uses evaporation to cool air as with a traditional cooler, but the cooling process takes place in a heat exchanger outside of the building. The outside air is drawn into the unit and progressively cooled as it moves through the exchanger. The interior air is cooled by heat transfered through a series of metal plates so the relative humidity inside the structure does not change. These units offer great energy savings in dry climates, but are not very effective for residential needs in more humid climates.