Tim Steele, foreman for The Cooler Company Heating & Air, installs a Breezair evaporative cooler on the roof of a home in Wheat Ridge as his colleague, Bowen Christensen, descends into the attic.

Although evaporative coolers cost one-fourth as much to operate as air conditioning, the initial investments are similar. Anderson is hoping that she won't have to replace both evaporative coolers.