subject: The History Of Air Conditioning [print this page] In Tampa air conditioning is such a luxuryIn Tampa air conditioning is such a luxury. It is hard to imagine what life would be without this feature or that people ever lived without it. People, did live without it, though. In fact, it was not too terribly long ago that the first air conditioner was invented. It's amazing to see how this simple invention has affected so many lives. It all began somewhere around 1882 by a well known inventor who was named Thomas Edison.
No, Thomas Edison did not invent air conditioning. He was instrumental, though, in its coming about as he contributed to the first electric power plant that was created. This first power plant originated in New York and provided an inexpensive source of energy to use for this marvelous technology. It could be used for small, single family homes and it could also be used for large commercial buildings. Before this power plant came into existence, the only way to control indoor air was incredibly expensive.
In 1889, foods and documents were provided refrigeration technology in order to preserve their optimal state. It was used to help combat humidity levels within companies that specialized in printing. Once it was determined that air conditioning could help with humidity levels in printing warehouses, the start of environment management commenced.
It was a man by the name of Willis Carrier who discovered the use of air conditioning to combat humidity levels in his printing warehouse. A year after that, he had graduated from Cornell University with a degree in engineering. They say that the first temperature and humidity controlling system originated in Carrier's Brooklyn printing plant; the solution to his humidity problem made him very happy, indeed.
The first patent for this technology is referred to as an 'Apparatus for Treating Air'. This came about in 1906. Carrier went on to secure several patents for his work. In fact, today he is recognized as the father of air conditioning, even though it was not Carrier who coined the term. A man by the name of Stuart H. Cramer first came up with the phrase as we know it today.
Carrier decided to provide his formula for his invention to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1911. To this day, his formula still provides the fundamental calculations for all air conditioning professionals. Indeed, the history of this invention is the story of a man who made his dream of environmental temperature control a reality and humanity has continued to utilize it gratefully ever since.
