The study described in this paper aims to evaluate comparatively the interest of an implementation of a ceramic evaporative cooler (CEC) compared to the use of a conventional device such as an air-source heat pump. This comparison is presented in three closely related ways: energy consumption, environmental impact and economic costs. This analysis is based on the hypothetical cooling of a specific room in a dwelling in six Spanish cities, each characterised by a different climate. The behaviour of the CEC in each climate is determined experimentally, reproducing the typical air conditions by an air-treatment unit. The total cooling demand in each city during the summer months is obtained from the data of the thermal load evolution in the room, provided by thermal load calculation software. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.