Question: What is the difference between a swamp cooler and air conditioning?
Answer: A swamp, or evaporative cooler works by water flowing over absorbent pads and air being pulled through the pads causing the air to be cooled and distributed into the home. The humidity will also be increased in the home.
An air conditioner pulls air over a coil within your furnace, which cools the air and distributes the cooled air throughout the home via the air supply ducts and heat registers. An air conditioner will also take humidity out of the air. You should never try to use AC and a swamp cooler at the same time since they will fight each other supplying and removing the humidity.

Question: Will I save money by waiting until the house gets hot to turn on my AC?
Answer: No. If you do this, your AC will likely never completely catch up. Find a comfortable temperature and let your AC maintain that temperature throughout the day and night. It will turn on and off as needed and keep your home comfortable.

Question: I have heard, at the end of January 2006, that the standard SEER efficiency for air conditioners  will be 13. Will I still be able to get a 10 SEER unit and if so is it legal to use it? 
Answer: Yes, the standard will be 13SEER. If you can find a 10 Seer unit you can install it and it is legal to run it. They won't manufacture anything less than 13 SEER after January 2006.