Mohit Mehra

Chilling

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Stick-figure drawing of a person in a hammock between banana plants next to a homemade air cooler

I made my first desi air cooler.

DIY evaporative air cooler made from bamboo, Khus grass and a fan - assembled at Dumbo farm, Jharkhand

There are environmental & economic costs to most comforts we seek. The cost for air cooling can be fairly high given the bunch of energy-consuming components & refrigerants involved. On the other hand, an air cooler can be cost-effective and a friendlier choice for the environment.

Here are the components:

  1. An electric fan
  2. Khus grass for absorbing water and allowing for slow evaporation
  3. A reused PVC pipe to drip water onto the Khus grass
  4. Bamboo from the farm for the frame
  5. A small water pump to transfer water from a container to the dripping pipe

Here’s a look at the internals:

Inside view of the DIY air cooler showing the PVC drip pipe, water pump, and Khus grass arrangement
The internals - PVC drip pipe, pump, and Khus grass

An evaporative cooler works by passing air through water-soaked Khus grass - as the water evaporates, it absorbs heat and cools the air. It’s not the right choice for humid climates, but in dry heat it makes a real difference and uses a fraction of the electricity of a standard AC.

Try it: dry or humid air

Slide the humidity in your air.

I'm planning to make a few more for the school and the temple complex before next summer. If you want one, drop me an email. 🙂

← More Updated October 3, 2026