h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

feel the back of your fridge in this hot weather and you'll get an idea of how much harder your engine works to power AC!

They are two completely different systems. Your fridge uses a *lot* more energy than the A/C in your car.

about 3HP for the average car, fridges are second most uneconomical gadgets in the home..after aircon!

I'd wager teenage kids score highly in the " uneconomical things lying about the house" league.

I'll see your 3 teenagers and raise you 2 dogs!

lets carpet the hall and stairs in white was also a good idea but we were VERY wrong! ( 3 kids and a dog!)

I can sympathize with your discomfort.
The summertime temperatures in southern Arizona, hover around the 40's C° during the day.
We use "evaporative coolers" to cool our homes. Which are quite effective during our dry summers (april thru october).
Evaporative coolers are essentially fiber pads, with water flowing over them, and air blowing thru the pads to cool the air.
Works quite well when the relative humidity of the outside air is less than 15%.
Once our "monsoon" rain season begins the relative humidity climbs to considerably more than twenty%, at which point your home becomes a sauna.
The use of air conditioners is an extreme example of energy use, as they rarely cease running, even if the thermostat is set for 86° (or 30°C).
I look forward to the fall temps of 86°, which should arrive near the end of October.