> "Gas powered" refrigerators used to be real common in rural homes 
 > around here.  They were usually called "Servels" because that was 
 > the brand name of the leading supplier.  I still see them advertised 
 > once in a while.
 > 
 > I also have seen natural gas fired commercial air conditioners (for 
 > office buildings, etc.).  I dunno what would stop a person from 
 > using something similar (whether gas heated or solar heated) in a 
 > home.
My mother-in-law has a Servel gas 'fridge that must be 50 years old. Still 
works, too.
And, we have 2 buildings at work that are air-conditioned with heat. :-) Both 
have big York chillers that make cold water from steam; the cold water goes 
to heat exchangers to cool the air in the building. There are sure a lot of 
pumps 'n stuff involved.
As far as cooling after dark goes, if you cooled an insulated reservoir of 
water and drew on that, you could go all night long. Betcha the initial 
investment would be a killer!
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