Today, we embark on an exciting journey through time to explore the fascinating history of air conditioning. From its humble beginnings to the modern systems we rely on today, air conditioning has become an essential part of our lives, providing comfort and relief from sweltering summers. So, sit back, relax, and let’s dive into the cool world of air conditioning!
Our story begins in ancient times when ingenious minds sought ways to beat the heat. Ancient Egyptians, for example, hung wet reeds in their windows, allowing the breeze to evaporate the water and create a cooling effect indoors. Similarly, the Persians used wind towers to capture and circulate the wind, providing relief from the scorching desert heat.
1758: Benjamin Franklin and Cambridge University professor John Hadley discover that the evaporation of alcohol and other volatile liquids can cool down an object enough to freeze water.
1820: English inventor Michael Faraday makes the same discovery as Franklin and Hadley after compressing and liquidizing ammonia.
1831: Jacob Perkins builds the first effective, steam-powered refrigerator.
Late 1830s: Dr. John Gorrie invents the ice-making machine that uses compression to make buckets of ice and then blows air over them. He uses the technique to cool down people with yellow fever and malaria.
1881: Naval engineers build a makeshift air conditioner to keep President James Garfield comfortable after an assassin shoots him. It uses a half-million pounds of ice in 2 months and lowers the room temperature by up to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
1899: Alfred Wolff spearheads efforts toward comfort cooling.
1902: Willis Haviland Carrier discovers that a relationship exists between temperature, humidity, dew point, and pressure. He designs the first modern cooling unit as a way to solve a moisture problem for a publishing company.
1904: The World’s Fair in St. Louis, Missouri, features a fully air-conditioned Missouri State Building, marking the first time that the American public is exposed to the concept of comfort cooling.
1906: Carrier patents his “Apparatus for Treating Air” in Brooklyn, New York.
Frank Lloyd Wright designs the Larkin Administration Building to accommodate an air conditioning system.
In North Carolina, textile mill engineer Stuart Cramer creates a ventilating device that adds water vapor to the air of textile plants, making yarn easier to spin and less likely to break. He’s the first to coin the term “air conditioning.”
1908: G.B. Wilson uses “air conditioning” in a textbook for the first time.
1914: Charles Gates successfully installs the first domestic air conditioning unit in a Minneapolis mansion, but no one uses it because no one ever lives in the home.
1915: The Father of Air Conditioning forms his own company called Carrier Air Conditioning Company of America. Does the name Carrier sound familiar? That must be because it’s one of the most well-known brands of AC in the market and we’re proud to work with them.
1917: The first air conditioning unit is installed in a movie theater.
1921: Carrier introduces centrifugal compressors, which replace bulkier rotary compressors.
1928: The Carrier Corporation’s Weathermaker device debuts as “the first practical home air conditioning unit.”
DuPont, an American chemical company, introduces Freon, a stable, nonflammable gas or liquid used as a moderately toxic refrigerant.
1930: The first air-conditioned dining car is available for travelers on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
1931: H.H. Schultz and J.Q. Sherman filed a patent for a window unit. The product hits the market the next year.
1939: Packard, an American luxury automobile company, makes the first car with optional air conditioning. However, to turn off the air conditioner, the driver must stop the engine, pop the hood and disconnect a compressor belt.
1940s and 50s: Employers suspect that air conditioning in the office would promote laziness, but after installation, productivity increased and absenteeism decreased.
1947: British scholar S.F. Markham writes, “The greatest contribution to civilization in this century may well be air-conditioning—and America leads the way.”
1953: The total number of air conditioning units sold in the United States exceeds 1 million due to the post-World War II economic boom.
1987: Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by not producing responsible substances is signed.
1992: The U.S. Energy Department sets efficiency standards for residential central A/C units and heat pumps, which results in saving $29 billion from 1993 to 2023.
1994: Freon is linked to ozone depletion, and is subsequently banned in several countries. Auto manufacturers switch to a less harmful refrigerant while Honeywell, now a multinational conglomerate of commercial and consumer products, and Carrier, develop more environmentally friendly coolants.
1997: The Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions based on the premise that global warming exists and man-made carbon dioxide emissions have caused it, is signed.
2002: An estimated 6.7 million air conditioning units are produced!
2006: The U.S. Energy Department sets new requirements for central AC units and heat pumps to avoid more than 369 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
2015: The U.S. Energy Department announces new projects for non-vapor compression technologies that don’t require refrigerants.
As we conclude our journey through the history of air conditioning, we recognize the incredible impact this innovation has had on our lives. From ancient techniques to the cutting-edge technology of today, air conditioning has come a long way. It has not only transformed our comfort but also shaped industries, boosted productivity, and improved the quality of life for countless individuals.
At Davis Ford Heating & Air Conditioning, we are proud to be part of this rich history, serving Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC. With our expertise and commitment to exceptional service, we continue to provide reliable and efficient cooling solutions that enhance your comfort and well-being. From Ductless mini split AC systems to Central AC units, we are sure to have a solution that’s right for you!
So, whether you’re enjoying the summer sun or seeking refuge from its sweltering embrace, trust Davis Ford Heating & Air Conditioning to keep you cool and comfortable throughout the seasons. Contact us today at 833-455-5127 to experience the Davis Ford difference, where history meets innovation for your ultimate comfort.
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