In hot climates, performance of vapor compression cooling cycles decreases sharply, and consequently, energy consumption rises. Pre-cooling the air before it enters the condensing system can enhance the system performance and protect our environment. In this study, an experimental investigation on energy savings of a split air-conditioning utilizing evaporative cooling technology is conducted under a wide range of weather conditions. Thermal performance of commercial corrugated papers which are available at low cost is investigated experimentally in a wind tunnel. These characteristics are used in designing the evaporative cooling system. Depending on the maximum saturation efficiency, low pressure drop, and maximum performance, the optimum pad thickness was observed at 100 mm. Results showed that at this thickness, the power consumption decreased from 15 to 22% and the overall COP increased from 29% to 53%. Depending on the energy cost and regional usage, the maximum savings in the overall energy cost is $21.6/year. The cost of water consumption is $ 1.82/year. The payback period for the proposed system is less than three years and finally the life-cycle cost saving is between 242 and $ 400. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.