HOW THEY WORK
Evaporative Coolers work on the principle of using water to dissipate heat through Evaporation. Air is drawn through a water saturated 'media' by a large fan in a large 'box' that sits outside the home. Evaporation cools the air at about 50% efficiency - and increases the Humidity by about 20% over the outside air. This air is blown into your home at high velocity. In the Desert, this Humidified air can become uncomfortable above a certain temperature. Most people find that Evaporative Coolers work well up to about 100 degrees, and then need to be shut off to move over to Air Conditioning because of interior Temperature and Humidity. They cool in a 'path' between the Unit and a ventilation outlet such as a slightly opened window or door, providing good cooling in the path, but not so much elsewhere. The media in the unit should be changed yearly to avoid mold growth and a 'musty' smell.

PROS

• PROVEN, RELIABLE TECHNOLOGY
• INEXPENSIVE TO OPERATE
• COOLS AIR 20 DEGREES

CONS

• HUMIDIFIES - AIR CAN BECOME TOO HUMID
• REQUIRES PROPER VENTILATION TO OPERATE EFFECTIVELY
• UNEVEN COOLING
• NOISY
• OBTRUSIVE EQUIPMENT
• REQUIRES MAINTENANCE

COSTS:

INSTALLED: about $ 2,000 or more Per Unit (1,800 Sq Ft Home - 6500                        CFM Unit)
TO OPERATE: about 35 Cents per Hour - effective 60% of the Summer
SAVINGS*: about $ 1,700 PER YEAR with an 8 Year Old A/C
                     about $ 2,900 PER YEAR with a Pre-1992 A/C

ENVIROCOOL SAVINGS:
about $ 2,800 PER YEAR with an 8 Year Old A/C
about $ 4,300 PER YEAR with a Pre-1992 A/C

*Based on 1,800 Cooling Hours per Year @ 25 Cents per Kilowatt Hour