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Who Invented Air Conditioning?

Who Invented Air Conditioning?

Find Out Where YOUR Home is Losing Energy:

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Air conditioning is a modern convenience that we take for granted. But like so many modern technologies, few of us know how it came to be.

Evolved from Ancient Egypt

Air conditioning wasn't so much invented as evolved. It evolved from the much older technology of using evaporation to cool an indoor space. Today’s evaporative coolers, sometimes called swamp coolers, are the direct descendants of this technology. The Ancient Egyptians would circulate water through the walls of their building for cooling. Since water was scarce in arid Egypt, this first air conditioning design was something only the aristocracy could afford.

Medieval Persians Invented the Swamp Cooler

Evaporative cooling can be traced as far back as Medieval Persia, where wind would be captured in wind traps and channeled over water in open cisterns. The water would then evaporate and cool the interior of the house. In their own way, it could be said the Persians invented the swamp cooler.

Modern Air Conditioning

The first step toward the modern air conditioner was taken in 1824 when a British scientist named Michael Faraday discovered that air could be cooled by the evaporation of ammonia that had been liquefied by compression.

Willis Haviland Carrier developed the first electric air conditioner in 1902 and ushered in the age of modern air conditioning . In fact, HVAC technology debuted in 1902, when the New York Stock Exchange became the very first building to use separate AC units to cool and heat the air.

In 1924, the first industrial application of electric air conditioning was implemented in a printing plant. Stuart W. Cramer invented the term "air conditioning" back in 1906 when he applied the primitive, non-electrical, HVAC technology of the day to the textile industry. Needless to say, his employees were grateful.

Air Conditioning in Homes

The 1950s saw the expansions of home ownership coincide with improvements in HVAC technology. For the first time, homes were built with what could be considered truly modern HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Cooling) systems.

Air conditioning has come a long way-- we wouldn't have our modern world without it! Air conditioning makes modern architecture possible. If it weren't for air conditioning units, our present-day tall, boxy skyscrapers would not have sufficient ventilation.

Air Conditioning in Vehicles…and Everywhere!

Air conditioning has also become common in vehicles, from airplanes and space shuttles to the family car. This technology has assisted in the operating room and improved air quality in the workplace. You can find everywhere from the ICU to the YMCA: air conditioning is everywhere! Refrigeration and air conditioning technology helps keep your children healthy and your food fresh. It keeps vaccines from spoiling, popsicles from melting, and the family safe from heat stroke on swelteringly hot days.

One thing is for sure - air conditioning is here to stay!

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We were unaware of what was involved in an energy audit and your audior took the time to explain everything. We were impressed with the report which told us the areas in which we need to take action on. He never pressured us to use any particular contractors, he just suggested that we go to the Building Energy Pros web site to select contractors of our own choice. He did an excellent job and we HIGHLY recommend the Building Energy Pros. We already have recommended them to several of our neighbors. Again, EXCELLENT JOB!
Cynthia Simpson

The Building Energy Pros auditor was very knowledgeable. I was VERY HAPPY with him. He promptly E-mailed my energy audit report to me and I will consider all of his recommendations.
Tom McGee

We found out that our house really has no energy problems. We are happy to know that we
Leslie Stewart

I was very satisfied with your energy auditor. He was very qualified and spent a great deal of time with me. The energy audit was very informative.
P.B.

The energy auditor was very good and helpful. He keeps in touch with me to answer any of my questions.
D.G.

I was very satisfied with my energy audit. The auditor gave me some tips on attic insulation that were very helpful.
R.G.

I was very satisfied with my energy audit. Thank you!
R.S.

Very good service! I am going to replace the windows as the auditor had suggested.
D.W.

I was very happy with the energy audit. THANKS!
A. M.

My energy audit was very helpful. Joe Dempsey, your auditor, identified some structural problems that I was not aware of and explained to me why I need more insulation.
J. F.

The auditor was EXCELLENT! He spent ALOT of time with me. I am going to take 3 to 4 of his suggestions and correct these small items to save on my energy bills.
M. B.

The auditor did a GREAT JOB! He knew a lot about older homes, which we have. The report was very comprehensive. Thank you!
Vicki Nez/at

Your energy auditor was very nice and helpful. He answered all of our questions. We will recommend Building Energy Pros to our friends and neighbors.
Katherine McCaffrey

The auditor did a TERRIFIC JOB! The report was FANTASTIC! I will make all the repairs he suggested. I will definitely recommend him to everyone I know that could benefit from a home energy audit.
Steve Sleigh, Chevy Chase

The energy auditor was very professional and I am very satisfied with both the energy audit and the report I received. I will be referring the Building Energy Pros.
Tim Clary

I was very satisfied with the auditor. He was great and gave me some very valuable information. I will refer him to people I know who may need a home energy audit.
Willie Gantt

Your home energy audit proved to be very informative and helpful. I was not aware of the updraft created inside our walls because of the balloon framing construction. You said that that can cause heat to be pulled out of the house with the draft going up inside the walls and should be re-mediated. You also said that the attic insulation was insufficient and that fiberglass batts can leave spaces for around the edges causing heat loss and that it should have blown in insulation on top of what was there to seal the whole attic and increase the r factor. After going over your findings and telling me how you would fix the problems you told me how I could do it myself with stuff from the Home Center and for a quarter of the cost. Well, I did. I went into the basement and filled the bottom of the wall joist with unfaced insulation where they set on the sill plate. I then cut one inch foam board the size for each space and set it in and the sealed the edges of that with expanding foam as well as the sill plate to the foundation. I also sealed the sill plate to the foundation where the joist ran along it, as well as the top of those joist where it made contact with the subflooring. Next I went to the home center and rented their blown insulation machine and got ten bales of the insulation. I filled the attic on top of the batt insulation with about six inches giving another r-19 factor on top of the r-19 that was there. You said that the blown in would also help seal the heat loss around the edges of the batt. The work in the basement cost $144.00 and the work in the attic cost $328.00. After the 30% federal energy tax credit it will end up costing me about $330.00, which you said I should recover in savings in the first year. Thank You for all your advice and expertise. You made me aware of things I should consider and did.
Tommy Thompson