Evaporative vs Refrigeration cooling

Once upon a time I lived in the Mojave desert.  It's the most arid place that I've ever been to, although from what I've seen, it's nowhere near as dry as the Sahara desert.  In the summer months, the sun is intense and the heat is brutal.  Any time you live in a desert, it's a great idea to try to keep the inside of your house from getting as hot as the rest of the desert!