What property of water allows the processes of perspiration to lower mammal temperatures and transpiration to cool leaf surfaces?

Higher heat of evaporation required to break hydrogen bonds

Explanation:

Water molecules are joined together by intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Evaporation of liquid water into water vapor requires extra energy to break these hydrogen bonds to separate the water molecules from each other.

Since a higher heat of evaporation is required, the water molecules absorb the heat from the skin surface or leaf surfaces during perspiration and transpiration respectively. This leaves the cooler skin and leaf surfaces behind. Therefore, the presence of intermolecular hydrogen bonds and the need for extra energy to evaporation water allow it to exhibit a cooling effect.