Air conditioners and swamp coolers use vastly different technology to cool your home in the summer, but which one is the right choice for you?

Our DIY swamp coolers can’t compete with air conditioning, but they are certainly better than nothing. Jennifer Bardsley publishes books under her own name and the pseudonym Louise Cypress.

"Combining a misting system with a fan essentially creates a DIY evaporative cooler (like a swamp cooler). This is one of the most effective tricks for heat relief in dry climates." ...

With about $30 and a trip to the hardware store, you can build your own AC unit, otherwise known as a swamp cooler, which uses hot air to evaporate water and a fan to circulate cool air.

And given these are desperate, heat-stricken times, let us introduce Mike Hosking's DIY swamp cooler - made out of items you'll (possibly) have around your house. If you don't have the luxury of ...

Evaporative coolers that work in this way, also known as swamp coolers, haven’t been put into computers before because they are full of sloshy water.

Flip through the gallery for 18 eco-friendly ideas for staying cool this summer, from chilly frozen water bottles to a DIY swamp cooler that's surprisingly powerful.

local How to make a swamp cooler for under $35 It's not the same as having a high powered unit but making a small, portable AC is as easy as having some ice, elbow pipes, a fan and a cooler.

Beat the heat with a frozen water bottle, damp cloth, and fan to create a DIY air cooler.

Air conditioners and swamp coolers use vastly different technology to cool your home. Here's how to decide which would work better for you.

features How to make a swamp cooler for under $35 It's tough to stay in our homes when many don't have air conditioning in the Pacific Northwest.