To celebrate National Air Conditioning Appreciation Day, we decided to outline a brief history of air conditioning! AC is one of the most important inventions of modern times; it's something we all take for granted but never really stop to appreciate! Let's go through a summarized timeline of how cooling comfort came to be.
Air Conditioning Appreciation Day Timeline
1851: Mechanical refrigeration takes shape
Dr. John Giorre designed a machine to create ice using a compressor powered by water, horse, wind-driven sails, or steam.
1902: Willis Carrier designs the first modern cooling unit
You've probably heard of the Carrier brand, which all started when Willis Carrier invented the first modern electrical AC unit to solve a moisture problem for a publishing company.
1904: Public experiences comfort cooling
Organizers of the St. Louis World's Fair used the process of mechanical refrigeration to cool the Missouri State Building, marking the first time the American public was exposed to the concept of indoor cooling.
1906: The term "air conditioning" is coined
The term air conditioning was patented by textile mill owner Stuart W. Cramer to describe his technique for controlling the humidity and changing the air of textile factories.
1922: Carrier invents the centrifugal chiller
According to the Department of Energy, Carrier invented the centrifugal chiller "to help improve performance and reduce the cost of air conditioners." The chiller had "fewer moving parts and less compressor stages than existing units." This new system increased the reliability and lowered the costs of air conditioners, which greatly expanded their use across the U.S.
1928-1929: Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerant is created and used for room cooling systems
The world's first non-flammable refrigerating liquid was created to greatly improve the safety of air conditioners. Using the refrigeration technology, Frigidaire introduced a new split-system room cooler to the market. General Electric then improved on the design to create a self-contained room cooler.
1931: Window air conditioning units are invented
J.Q. Sherman and H.H. Schultz filed a patent for an AC unit that could be placed on a window ledge. In the same year, Frigidaire began promoting year-round central air conditioning systems for homes.
1947: Low-cost air conditioners become more available
Engineer Henry Galson created a more compact and inexpensive window AC unit. By 1947, 43,000 were sold across the country.
1975-1978: National Laboratory research advances AC technology
Oak Ridge National Laboratory worked to develop the first version of the Heat Pump.
1990: Title VI of Clean Air Act signals phase-out of CFCs
The Clean Air Act was amended to include new measures to phase out CFCs and make air conditioners more environmentally friendly.
1992: Energy Department sets first efficiency standards
The Energy Department set efficiency standards for residential air conditioners and heat pumps which is estimated to result in $29 billion in energy savings from 1993 to 2023.
1998-2000: Advanced refrigerant develops
The National Laboratory's Heat Pump design model was used by companies representing around 30% of the market for new air conditioners and heat pumps. In the early 2000's, Honeywell helped establish R-410a as the leading refrigerant replacement.
2006: Energy Department sets new efficiency standards
The new standards are expected to avoid more than 369 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
2015: Energy Department supports next generation of AC technologies
The DOE announced new projects advancing non-vapor compression technologies that don't require refrigerants, representing an enormous shift for the industry.
