That's proven to be a myth, just like using a fan to cool you down. But many choose to ignore the science/facts.
In the West Coast, we don't need heat pumps given electrical, furnace, or floor heating is the norm. We need split A/C units which also cost a lot less, almost half of a heat pump. It's also easier to install. Otherwise, an inverter type A/C unit works well and is very efficient.
Well please educate me please, what are the science/facts? When you choose to use science as the answear, use facts and an logical explanation.
A fan blowing air over water will evaporate the water. The heat in the air is used to evaporate the water.. The liquid water is turned into water vapour by taking heat out of the air. Convection. As long as the fan is taking the heated water vapour away, the local area will cool as long as the water is there to evaporate and the fan takes the created water vapour away.
When ice melts it turns to water. When the water disappears it has turned to water vapour... all requiring heat from the immediate area through conduction or convection.
Although its your sweat evaporating from your skin (sweat evaporated taking heat from the body), the fan removes the water vapour from your area. The moving air helps to increase the efficiency of removing heat from your body, instead of creating a thermal blanket (when there is no air moving across the skin). Thus is seems like the air cools your skin. By observation alone, the cooling sensation comes from the fan or air blowing over their bodies. They are not wrong by their observations....
So you must test if its from sweat evaporating alone. Wear a wet/dry suit. A dune suit (not possible). Wear a gortex rain suit. Wear a plastic rain suit. When you sweat your skin feels clammy in these suits.
Ancient civilizations used wind towers to cool hot dessert air in subterrain basement, running the hot air over water, which cooled the air, which was use to cool a house.
Is there a different principle at work here other than evaporation. There might be, recent study says that photons of light also are a cause of evaporation of ocean water.
Next, it will be some Wimp particle that causes evaporation or something to that effect.
Newer construction do use heat pumps if the land type will permit it. Most builder will put in a Evaporator/Condensor split A/C unit model that uses refridgerant and fans to cool a house (This type needs a compressor to change the state of the refrigerant and thus requires alot of energy to work). While a heat pump is more energy efficient due to only have to pump.