As an expert in the field of air conditioning, I have been asked countless times about the origins of the term 'aircon'. While many people assume that it is simply a shortened version of 'air conditioning', the truth behind its origin is much more fascinating. The term 'air conditioning' was first coined by Stuart Cramer, an industrial engineer from Charlotte, North Carolina, in the early 1900s. Cramer was looking for ways to add moisture to the air in his textile mill, as he noticed that it made processing textiles much easier. He wanted to find a way to do this on a larger scale. In 1906, Cramer filed a patent application for his invention and used the term 'air conditioning' to describe it.
He drew inspiration from the process of water conditioning, which was a well-known method for making textiles easier to work with. By using this term, Cramer was able to convey the idea that his invention could improve the quality of air in a similar way that water conditioning improved the quality of water. But what exactly did Cramer's invention do? It not only lowered the temperature of the air, but it also reduced humidity levels. This made the air more comfortable at any temperature, which was especially beneficial in hot and humid environments. Interestingly enough, around the same time that Cramer was working on his invention, another man by the name of Willis Carrier was also developing a similar device. Carrier's invention became widely known as the first modern air conditioner, but it was actually Cramer who first came up with the term 'air conditioning'.While Cramer's invention was primarily used in factories and plants to improve working conditions, another inventor had a different idea for how to use artificially cooled air. John Gorrie, a doctor from Florida, was looking for ways to help his patients who were suffering from tropical diseases.
He believed that cooling the air could provide relief for their symptoms, so he created a small steam engine that could cool the air. Gorrie called his invention an 'ice machine' and it was essentially the first air conditioning unit designed for personal use. Unfortunately, Gorrie's efforts to patent and popularize his invention were met with resistance. Ice makers from Nordic countries, who profited from shipping ice to the south, lobbied against Gorrie and spread skepticism about the benefits of artificially cooled air. This led to the term 'air conditioning' becoming more widely used and accepted, while Gorrie's 'ice machine' was largely forgotten. So why is it called aircon? Well, it all goes back to Stuart Cramer and his clever use of the term 'air conditioning'.
His invention not only improved working conditions in factories, but it also paved the way for modern air conditioning systems that we use today.
