Compare Outdoor Cooling Methods

There are some terrific ways to cool the outdoors! But how do you decide which are best for you and your needs? Here are summaries of each outdoor cooling method with links to help you learn more about them.

Outdoor Shades

• No power supply needed
• Can be the least expensive of all outdoor cooling methods, depending on materials and construction
• Location of the shade is dependent upon the location of the sun
• Shade's cooling ability is unaffected by breezes or humidity
• The only cooling method that can provide UV (ultraviolet) protection

The widest variety of cooling options fit in the category of outdoor shades. These can be the least expensive to use because they require no electricity or water. But they are available in such an enormous variety of sizes and configurations, depending on your options they can end up being the most expensive of all. Cost is generally based on size, permanency, and the countless options of materials used. Because they require no electricity or water to run, outdoor shades can be the most portable of outdoor cooling methods. They can also be among the most permanent when they have no moving parts and are made of indestructible materials. It really helps to understand how shade moves and changes in order to make the most use of outdoor shades, and we have some excellent articles that can help.

For more information, please read our pages: Outdoor Shade, How to do a Shade Audit

Misting Systems

The drier the weather, the better these work. Understand the humidity in your area to see how much cooling you can expect to get from these. These can cool in gentle breezes, but cool best in still air. The more powerful of these use pumps and motors supplied with electricity, so care must be taken that they are operated safely outdoors. These pumps and motors are part of a system that ensures a very fine spray, often called a mist or a fog. In ideal conditions these can cool by as much as 40°F or nearly 4.5°C. Systems are also available that don't use pumps. These give off a coarser spray that can get you a little wet, and generally won't cool as much, but they are less expensive and simpler to set up and maintain.

For more information, please read our pages: Misting Systems, Electrical Safety Outdoors

Outdoor Fans

• Require a source of electricity
• Effective in dry or humid weather, but especially in humid weather
• Natural breezes and winds can limit their effectiveness

These work beautifully in even the most humid of conditions. These can cool in gentle breezes, but cool best in still air. Oudoor fans don't actually COOL anything. Instead they make people FEEL cooler by moving the air around them -- the same way breezes make us feel cooler, but the outdoor temperature is just the same whether or not any breezes are blowing. Most often available in ceiling fans, but floor and wall mount fans are becoming more and more available for outdoor use. Postioning of outdoor fans can make a huge difference on how much cooling effect you'll actually get. Understand the humidity in your area to see how much cooling you can expect to get from these. Power for these is supplied with electricity, so care must be taken that they are operated safely outdoors.

For more information, please read our pages: Outdoor Fans, Electrical Safety Outdoors

Portable Air Conditioners

• Require a source of electricity
• Most effective for enclosed areas
• Need to pass one or more hoses through an opening between the enclosed area and the outside
• Can reduce temperatures more than any other outdoor cooling method
• Can reduce humidity in the air, making it the best choice around sensitive electronic equipment
• Highest electricity use of all methods for the same sized area

While it may seem that "outdoor" and "air conditioning" cannot possibly go together, there are times when air conditioning is the perfect solution. Most often used for special outdoor events such as weddings, fairs, conventions and expos, for example. Best for enclosed areas, such as tents, sheds or other outbuildings because this acts as a container for the cool air and a barrier for the warm exhaust air. They need some kind of access into the area being cooled as well as away from it and this is usually done through a window or other opening. Portable air conditioners come with hoses or nozzles that fit through these openings to keep the warm air separate from the cooled air. The entire cost goes to the actual cooling, virtually none of it goes to appearance. Power for these is supplied with electricity, so care must be taken that they are operated safely outdoors.

For more information, please read our pages: Portable Air Conditioners, Electrical Safety Outdoors

Evaporative Coolers ("Swamp" Coolers)

• Cooling ability depends on air temperature (higher is better) and humidity (lower is better)
• Combine water and wind to cool an average of 20ºF, depending on weather
• Cool by evaporation (like a misting system) plus air flow (like an outdoor fan)
• Need fresh air circulating in a partly enclosed area --
  an open window of a shed, trailer or booth; an open panel of a tent, cabana or patio
• Regular maintenance is key to safe and effective cooling
• Units are large, enclosing large fan blades and water tanks
• Require electricity and water sources

Evaporative coolers are more commonly knows as "swamp coolers," "air coolers," or "desert coolers." They use a fan to blow fresh air across a water-soaked pad. This gives you the same sort of outdoor cooling effect you'd get with a misting system, but the water is all contained in a pad positioned in front of the fan. They can add humidity to the air, so are especially effective in hot, dry areas.

For more information, please read our pages: Swamp Coolers, Electrical Safety Outdoors

Battery-Powered Outdoor Cooling

Many electrically-powered outdoor cooling solutions are available in battery-powered forms. These typically run off a car, recreation vehicle or tractor battery, or a small portable battery and are generally not as powerful as those that run on alternating current (such as supplied by a local electric company). They may not offer as much cooling, but they are more portable than methods powered by alternating current. So they can be used in places, such as campgrounds, beaches, parks and other areas where it can be hard, or impossible, to access a regular power source.

We are developing an informative article on battery-powered outdoor cooling and will have it available soon.

We will also have an article on misting fans, available soon.

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