A solid desiccant cooling system comprising a common intake delivering air (19) to a first pathway (21) for air to be conditioned, and a second pathway (31) for regeneration air and structure (24) retaining a mass of solid desiccant for cyclic movement between a first location (24a), in which the solid desiccant lies in the first pathway (21) for dehumidifying the air to be cooled by adsorption of moisture to the desiccant, and a second location (24b) in which the solid desiccant lies in the second pathway (31) for the regeneration air to take up moisture therein as water vapor. The second pathway has an air heater arrangement (35) upstream of the second location (24b) for heating the regeneration air and the first pathway (21) has an air cooler arrangement (25) independent of the air heater arrangement (35) downstream of the first location (24a). An air delivery device (40) is coupled to both of the first and second pathways (21, 31) and adapted or configured to deliver pressurized air along both the first and second pathways (21, 31). A control strategy is also provided to change the flow path of air from the common intake based on the need to satisfy alternative heating or cooling needs at different times of the day and season.