Article · Cooling
Draft / Under researchFans, evaporative coolers and AC: how to compare them
A simple framework: climate, home, energy, water and refrigerants.
Editorial team (draft) · 6 min read · Last reviewed · Status: draft · All countries
Four questions
- How hot and how humid is your climate during the periods you need cooling?
- Can the home be shaded, sealed or ventilated better first?
- What energy and water are available and affordable?
- Who can install and service the equipment locally?
A comparison at a glance
Fans: lowest electricity, no cooling of the air itself. Evaporative coolers: low electricity but consume water and work best in dry air. Air conditioning: effective in humid heat, higher electricity, involves refrigerants.
What can mislead
Peak-capacity figures are not a measure of real-world efficiency. Nameplate power does not tell you annual energy cost. And a large unit in a small room can cycle on and off wastefully.
What we know
- Evaporative cooling is less effective in humid air.
- Oversized air conditioners can be inefficient.
What remains unclear
- Total lifetime refrigerant leakage in everyday use.
Sources and references
No external sources are cited on this page yet. Sources will be added as claims are verified.