billp wrote:If you live in a dry climate, like albuquerque, swamp cooler [expansion] works well.Air conditioning doesn't save energy
I want to make sure that readers do not get a false impression regarding the energy consumption of refrigerated-air cooling for homes. The article on Charter Homes in Huning Ranch, Los Lunas, implies that refrigerated air is an energy efficiency feature.
Actually, refrigerated air uses three to five times more electric power than evaporative cooling. This is based on my experience as facilities engineer for a large building owner in Albuquerque, and on published information.
The story did not mention water consumption, but there is inaccurate information circulating about that as well. When the amount of water used at the power plant is considered - almost 1 gallon per kilowatt-hour - there is relatively little difference in water consumption between refrigerated-air cooling and evaporative cooling.
David Robertson
Corrales
Thursday August 31, 2006 Business Outlook, Albuqueruque Journal
Swamp coolers work pretty well in Iran and Iraq too, I speculate.
I've used them with a varying degree of success out here in interior california. when the humidity was low they were great
As for refrigeration strategies, the root cellar is the most basic. cant beat that once its dug.
If you live in a climate that routinely freezes in the winter, harvest that cold by freezing large blocks of Ice and placing them in a very insulated cool house.