The air is hot and humid. So in order to deal with the situation you go out and buy an air conditioner. But why? Just because air conditioners are the first thing that comes to your mind in relation to dealing with the discomfort of heat and humidity? How about alternatives? THE DEHUMIDIFIER This is one appliance that does not get enough recognition. What I saw in Philippines is obsession on air conditioners, despite the high cost to buy and operate and yet the main problem for the discomfort is humidity, not heat. But where were dehumidifiers to be found there? From my checking, nowhere to be found. Because money is hard to come by there, dehumidifiers should be the appliance of choice there. Here in America, with its greater wealth in spite of the third world wealth divide on account of the Federal Reserve and regressive governmental policies, there's still much money here to spend on air conditioners and providing a function that isn't sufficient as a dehumidifier but goes beyond...there's lessening discomfort and then there's avoiding it at all costs...that basically sums the difference between a dehumidifier and an A/C. Here where I live in the United States it gets to 42 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature in Philippines is about 36 or 37 Celsius. What they desperately need to counter the discomfort is a dehumidifier, not an air conditioner. I can live well without either one but I wouldn't mind owning a dehumidifier as I know I would use it, especially in the sweltering heat we've been having recently (mid 2014) and it being unusually humid for the area. I have a whole house air conditioning system and I simply will not use it on account of the operational cost. Let the consumer have more choices, especially for those who must be wise with their money. Save on electricity, hone in on what is crucial for your comfort-lowering heat capacity of air. Air with much moisture (humid) is what enables air to have any sort of heat capacity. You remove moisture and you will lessen the discomfort of sweat not being able to evaporate off your body. Your body would be the vessel commanding the vicinal dermal temperature, not the air, when the moisture content of the air is low. With increased temperature above the dermal temperature, if the moisture content is low, the human body will not only be able to have sweat evaporate off the body but also from the moisture within the body, having a HIGH HEAT CAPACITY, would actually lower the vicinal temperature of the air. Save big on $$ over using air conditioners. 1) No need to obstruct windows and render them useless 2) No need to make holes in walls 3) Lessen ability for intruder to get in from location of air conditioner 4)Does not need any special installation - not from you or by any contractor - less hassle, saving more money 5) Save big on appliance cost 6) Save big on operating as to perform the purpose intended, the operational cost is 4-6 times LOWER for a dehumidifier over an air conditioner Compare: Air conditioner costing $440, 12K Btu capacity for just 450-550 sq ft ! Dehumidifier costing $229, capacity for 2,000-3,600 sq feet, which is like a good to very big sized house, not just a room! Both are able to remove about 60 pints of water from the air but the extra effort put on the air conditioner to cool the air is not necessary in a good deal of circumstances. So, lets get SMART with money, smart with the knowledge of dehumidifiers. In many respects dehumidifiers are superior over A/C in reducing discomfort - the essential quality. A/C will still have a market as its function will be desired by many, however, let's help get the word out on this alternative which may be just what you need, just not all you could ever want.