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Comment by Dangeranger | Hacker News Reader

Could higher efficiency cooling be done by using more evaporative cooling systems (Swamp Coolers)[0] rather than traditional AC units?

There are climates where evaporative cooling is not effective, but perhaps they would be useful in the majority of climate regions.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evaporative_cooler

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As Barack Obama said, "Insulation is Sexy." The less you need air conditioning, the less the particular system matters. For most of the year we shouldn't even need air conditioning, when a building is properly insulated, orientated, and air-circulated.

Not only does insulation have dramatic effects on how temperature is regulated in your building, it only really benefits you when it is installed properly. On top of this, the direction the building faces, placement of windows, proper airflow, and even tile vs carpeted floors all add up to a much more energy efficient home.

How efficient? A building built in Pennsylvania in 1865 can stay cool most of the year (we're talking tops 70F on the bottom floor) by trapping cold air at night and sealing it in during the day. Fans assist air circulation and cooling, and cold air pools in slightly recessed first floor common areas. (It helps to have a stone foundation, too)

Of course you have to mix modern materials and practices with the old-school building constuction to get the most bang for your buck, but it's clear that we do not need to be blasting our A/C half the year. You can also look at models like the Passivhaus[1] for more modern, apartment-oriented designs. (Their underground heat exchanger is another alternative cooling system)

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_house

They can be very effective, they just look ugly and don't increase a house's value.

http://atomictoasters.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/swamp-c...

Authority: I live in Colorado.

and can even lead to mold

This. American construction is mostly wood frame, making the possibility of mold terrifying for any home owner.

Improper installation of vapor barriers is much more likely to lead to mold. If you don't inspect your contractor's work, expect problems.

Where they're effective I think people already tend to use them due to how cheap they are. The article mentions the regions that are starting to buy the most A/Cs are places like India and SE Asia, all of which are humid and hot.

This. In the US, the south east is too humid for swamp coolers to be effective. Also happens to be where the biggest load from AC is...

Swamp coolers only work in dry climates, and only when it's not too hot outside. People stopped using them in Phoenix because they really don't work that well in the middle of the summer now. They can also cause mold problems. Some houses will have "piggyback" systems, with both a swamp cooler and regular A/C, so they can switch to the A/C when it's too hot for the swamp cooler, but modern A/C units are so efficient it's probably not that cost-effective to do that any more.

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