Typical air-conditioning systems can be a drag in the summer. As the temperature heats up, they require more energy. They also cost more to run when the mercury rises, because power companies usually charge more during the summer’s peak demand.
The Coolerado Cooler tackles these issues with technology up to four times more energy efficient than conventional systems while providing the same amount of cooling, according to a report by the Federal Energy Management Program, part of the U.S. Department of Energy.
Like evaporative coolers, the Coolerado uses evaporation to cool air, but it produces lower temperatures than these systems without adding humidity to a home. The unit works by powering a fan that draws in outside air. The air runs through a dust and allergen filter to an exchanger that uses water—not chemical refrigerants—to fuel the cooling process. Half of the incoming air goes straight into ducts and contains no moisture. The other half, which contains heat and moisture, gets rejected out the top of the cooler. This leads the cooler to work better during the peak cooling season, says Rick Gillan, president of Coolerado. “As it gets hotter, our capacity increases because the air gets drier, so we get a lot more cooling effect.”
As a testament to its effectiveness, the publishers of the GreenSpec green products directory named the Coolerado as one of the top 10 building products of 2006. The cooler works best in the Western United States, the manufacturer says.
