New Delhi, June 12 -- Air coolers have long been a cost-effective way to beat the heat in countries like India, thanks to their relatively low power consumption. However, their usage tends to decline sharply with the arrival of the monsoon.

The reason lies in how these appliances work. Air coolers rely on evaporative cooling, drawing in hot air, passing it through a wet cooling pad, and releasing cooler air into the room. This process works best in dry conditions, where evaporation occurs quickly. During the monsoon, however, high humidity slows evaporation, making air coolers far less effective at delivering the same cooling performance.

This is where air conditioners gain an advantage. Unlike air coolers, ACs can both lower the temper...