Conventional air conditioning is one of the major contributors of CFC's into the atmosphere. An alternative type of cooling, which does not expel CFC's is highly desirable as one important step in the correction of this problem. Evaporative cooling is a passive cooling method that does not expel CFC's. There is no compressor, condenser, chiller coils, cooling towers or heavily insulated piping used in evaporative cooling. The cost of acquisition and operation is a fraction of conventional air conditioning and mechanical refrigeration systems.
Maintenance costs are minimal requiring simpler procedures and lower skilled maintenance people.
An extra benefit is the cost payback due to its' low energy use and extended useful life of equipment being cooled by it. Unfortunately, many owners of buildings and specifiers of cooling equipment in the U.S. do not seem to realize that it is effective in all areas of the country rather than just in the hotter, drier climates. It increases worker comfort. In industry it is normal in hot weather to experience increased heat-related illness, lower productivity and increased absenteeism among workers. Many of these industries cannot afford conventional mechanical refrigeration or air conditioning while they can afford evaporative cooling.