10 Jul The Evolution of Air Conditioning: A Historical Overview
How much do you know about the history of your favorite summer appliance?
The modern idea of the air conditioner was created by Haviland Carrier, but there are several inventors that contributed to the air conditioners we use today.
History of Air Conditioning:
1758 – Benjamin Franklin and John Hadley – Discovered that the evaporation of alcohol and other volatile liquids that evaporate faster than water can cool down an object.
1830 – John Gorrie – Builds an ice-making machine that uses compression to make ice and then blows air over them.
1902 – Willis Carrier – Invents a machine that blows air over cold coils to control room temperature and humidity. Carrier established the Carrier Air Conditioning Company of America after learning that companies were interested in the product.
1906- Stuart Cramer – Creates a ventilating device that adds water vapor to the air. He is the first to call the process air conditioning!
1914 – Charles Gates – This is the first time air conditioning was installed in a home.
1931 – H.H. Shultz and J.Q. Sherman – Individual room air conditioners are invented to sit on a window ledge. At the time, these units cost between $10,000 and $50,000. That’s equivalent to $120,000 to $600,000 today!
1939 – Packard – The first air conditioned car is created. However, the air conditioning wasn’t controlled from inside of the car. Drivers had to stop the engine and disconnect the compressor belt if they wanted to turn the AC off!
1970s – Central air conditioning units become popular in homes.