The Coolest Man in History

Currently, I’m sitting in nearly 90-degree weather, and doing my best to not get sun burned. Remember, I told you I moved to Brazil? It was so weird having Christmas in the summertime and seeing the pictures of Santa and Frosty while everyone walks around sweating.

Joinville, Brazil is hot and humid this time of year. And the locals tell us we ain’t seen nothin’ yet. February is supposed to be when things get serious.

So, naturally, my thoughts turned to staying cool and comfortable while living this close to the sun. I honestly do not know how people survived before air-conditioning. I’m sure part of it was simply they had no other option and didn’t know anything else - it was normal. But seriously, baking on the Earth’s crust is no fun.

Which is why this guy right here should be hailed as a hero by nearly every person in the world. Well, at least those people who live in climates where it is common to wear shorts and t-shirts. He solved a problem that everyone thought was normal and did such a good job that 100 years later people cannot imagine life without his invention. Talk about a WINNING MIND!

Willis Carrier invented air conditioning in 1902 to solve a problem at a printing factory in Brooklyn, New York. The factory struggled with high humidity, which caused the paper to warp and the printing to be misaligned. Mr. Carrier created a system that cooled the air by blowing it over cold coils. This not only lowered the temperature but also removed moisture from the air, solving the factory’s problem in a mere several months.

If you can believe it, people doubted him. They were like “What you talkin’ ‘bout Willis?”. People were so used to sweating, they weren’t sweating his revolutionary invention.

Air conditioning was expensive, complicated, and seemed like a luxury rather than a necessity. Factories and businesses were afraid to spend money on this new, unproven and possibly unnecessary technology. Even scientists and engineers were unsure if Carrier’s system would work as he claimed. But Carrier believed in his idea and kept improving it.

He went ahead and patented his idea and then in 1911, he published his groundbreaking formula to help others understand how air conditioning works. This made it easier for engineers to design and build systems. By 1915, he started his own company to focus on air conditioning technology.

His invention soon became popular in factories, where it improved production by keeping machines and materials at stable temperatures. Later, businesses like movie theaters and department stores started using air conditioning to attract customers by offering a cool, comfortable environment.

The first person to have AC in his home was a millionaire (and was not Willis Carrier). But in 1931, some other cool cats innovated and made smaller window air conditioning units to be used in homes. However, these units were still expensive, so only wealthy families could afford them. After World War II, advancements in technology made air conditioning cheaper and more efficient. Soon enough, they started showing up in people’s homes.

And then centralized air conditioning appeared. However, central AC hasn’t made its way to Brazil yet! We’re still chilling like an early 20^th century millionaire.

Willis Carrier faced many challenges, including skepticism, technical difficulties, high costs, and the fact that no one had done what he was doing. But his determination and ability to show the value and benefits of air conditioning helped overcome these obstacles. His invention not only improved comfort but also boosted productivity in industries and made life easier and safer in hot climates.

Today, air conditioning is a normal part of life, and we have Willis Carrier to thank for imagining a way to control temperature and humidity. His work laid the foundation for an innovation that changed the world.

Pretty cool, huh?