Air Conditioner

On a hot summer day, it's easy to see how important air conditioning is. Its widespread use has been linked to a significant decrease in heat-related mortality over the last 60 years. As a result, it is an important invention for which many people are grateful. And to think it was designed to do nothing more than accelerate the drying of ink!

Willis Carrier's original 1902 design was intended to regulate humidity in a Brooklyn printing business as ink blotted and leaked. Carrier's cooling system lowered the temperature, allowing the ink to dry quickly and cleanly. Carrier saw an opportunity and expanded it beyond the print shop and drying ink. But who knows if or when he would have finished his invention if not for that printing shop? Air conditioners, which typically use vapor-compression refrigeration, come in a variety of sizes, from small units used in vehicles or single rooms to massive units capable of cooling entire buildings. Air source heat pumps, which can be used for both heating and cooling, are becoming more common in colder climates.

Creator: Willis Carrier
Introduced: 1902