The use of air conditioners, popularly known as AC has changed home comfort forever. However, it was not until the 1920s that air conditioning was available for home use. Before that, a house could only be cooled in scorching summers by opening windows. All that changed with the invention of air conditioner technology in 1902, so much so it has become a necessity for households and industries in Australia and elsewhere.
Let’s delve deeper into how it all started.
What is Air Conditioning?
Air conditioning is a system used to cool down the temperature in indoor spaces, usually home, workplace, store etc, by driving the existing heat and humidity outside the room. Simply put, air conditioners function by taking warm air into a system and dispersing cold air
History of Air Conditioning
The basic concept of air conditioning has been around since the time of the ancient Egyptians. The concept also fascinated Benjamin Franklin – the great American inventor. In 1758, he conducted experiments with evaporation and alcohol to achieve freezing temperatures.
How Air Conditioning was Invented
The very first modern air conditioning unit was invented in 1902 by Willis Haviland Carrier, a skilled engineer. Carrier changed the world with his invention. But he designed his first air conditioner not to cool a room, but to prevent moist air from wrinkling magazine pages in a printing plant in New York.
Carriers system worked on the principles of mechanical refrigeration. It sent air from an industrial fan over coils filled with cold water, which cooled the air while at the same time removing moisture or humidity present in the room. His cooling system solved the problem and the cool air started to make the men inside the room comfortable.
Over the next few years, Carrier continued to refine his cooling systems and established the Carrier Air Conditioning Company of America. Today, Carrier Corporation stands as the world’s biggest air conditioner manufacturer and marketer. Eventually, Willis Carrier came up with the more convenient window air conditioner in the late 1930s, though it remained beyond the reach of the general public. Movie theaters started to use Carrier’s cooling technology widely in the 1930s.
It wasn’t until the middle of the 20th century that air conditioning became a common name in American households and started to be used in other parts of the world. Eventually air conditioning lost its aura and luxury. Today, there’s a staggering demand for cooling systems globally, and it’s no different in Australia.
Present day air conditioners, while operating on the same basic concept as Carriers system, incorporates advanced vapor compression mechanisms, diagnostics and controls, electronic sensors, materials and energy savings.
Air conditioning usage has risen dramatically in recent years in Australia and today, it’s almost become a necessity for homes and businesses to battle extreme temperature fluctuations and ensure a cool, comfortable environment for people. If you’re wondering what to look for while choosing an air conditioner for your home or office, get in touch with experts. They will help you with everything you need to know about air conditioners in Sydney and assist you in choosing the right air conditioner that suits your needs.