For thousands of years, humankind attempted to do something about the slow torture of hot weather.

These attempts involved…

• electric power
• ice made from steam engines
• professional air-sniffers
• refrigerated beds
• slave power
• ventilation amateurs
• water power

Thankfully, someone finally invented “modern air conditioning.”

Air conditioning allowed people to live in places that were previously considered inhabitable – like the desserts of New Mexico and Arizona.

Air conditioning led directly to the success of movie theaters, especially afternoon matinees. People were willing to spend money simply to enjoy a break from the summer heat.

Air conditioning helped create better work environments for factory and office workers. Being able to work in an air-conditioned factory was an employee benefit right off the bat.

Not only that, air conditioning was great for the factories and businesses also. Workers were more productive working in a more comfortable environment.

Air-conditioning prevented millions of heat-related deaths.

Air conditioning is now seen as an expected necessity, not the luxury that our great-grandmothers thought that it was.

Even if we only seem to appreciate it when it’s 102 degrees in the shade.

So who are we to thank for finally creating the first modern air conditioner?

Probably some foreign guy whose name we could never pronounce even if we practiced all day?

No…

And obviously, modern air conditioning was invented to keep people comfortable hot, humid summer?

No again…

The answers may surprise you as much as they did me…