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NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedAugust 18, 2026Miami-Dade

Evaporative 'swamp cooler' technology remains a low-energy cooling alternative

Evaporative coolers, which use water evaporation to lower air temperatures, continue to serve as a low-cost and low-energy cooling solution in dry climates. While traditional air conditioning became standard in the 1950s, these devices remain relevant for regions where humidity levels allow for effective cooling.

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Why It Matters

provides a low-energy alternative to traditional air conditioning, which is significant for residents in dry climates looking to manage cooling costs and energy consumption as temperatures rise.

Key Facts

  • Oscar Palmer perfected the first U.S. evaporative cooling system in 1908 in Arizona.
  • Evaporative coolers work by pulling hot air through water-saturated pads to cool and humidify the air.
  • These devices are most effective in dry climates and lose efficiency in humid regions.
  • Traditional air conditioning units did not become standard in the U.S. until the 1950s.
  • Evaporative coolers are characterized as low-cost and low-energy consumption devices.
  • Innovators are currently developing hybrid cooling systems that combine evaporative cooling with humidity management.

Who's Mentioned

personAnkit Kalanki“Principal of cooling at RMI, a clean energy nonprofit.”organizationRMI“Nonprofit dedicated to clean energy.”organizationCoolVeg“Nonprofit dedicated to evaporative cooling for produce.”locationArizona“Location where the first evaporative cooler was perfected.”personEric Verpolegen“Founder of CoolVeg, a nonprofit focused on evaporative cooling.”personOscar Palmer“Perfected the first evaporative cooling system in the U.S. in 1908.”