Today Year 2 had an air conditioner installed in the classroom. I can’t begin to explain how happy I am and how relaxed the students are due to that cool air being pumped around the room making a pleasant working environment.
So I decided to dedicate a blog to my new hero – Willis Carrier – the inventor of the air conditioner. Now get yourself comfortable, turn on your AC if you need to and learn about this fabulous man that makes my life and the lives of those living in heat a little bit more bearable.
Willis was an American engineer and inventor. He submitted drawings for what was to become the world’s first AC in Brooklyn back in 1902. This design was different as it met the four functions for air conditioning – that is to:
- control the temperature
- control the humidity
- control the air circulation and ventilation
- cleanse the air
He also discovered on of the great laws AC….that "constant dew-point depression provided practically constant relative humidity," This led to further modifications of his design and more patents all to help people be able to control the climate they are in.
Willis Carrier’s igloo was displayed at the 1939 New York World’s Fair to give visitors a glimpse into the future of air conditions. However WWII prevented this design from taking off. It wasn’t until the 1950s that air conditioning became popular.
Today, living in a country that is 30 degrees on a cool day, life without air conditioning would be brutal. So as I teach in this little rectangular classroom filled with warm sunshine and wriggly kids I say a quick thank you to God for Willis Carrier.
