For centuries, people tried to come up with ingenious ways to stay cool during the hot summers. For example, the Roman Emperor Elagabalus sent 1,000 slaves into the mountains to fetch snow. Thankfully, there are much easier ways to stay cool these days thanks to modern air conditioning.
While many people, including Benjamin Franklin, had conducted research into air conditioning, it was not until 1820 that the first real breakthrough was made. It was then that English scientist Michael Faraday discovered that by compressed ammonia would chill the air when it evaporated. This technique was applied to produce ice making machines. The modern electric air conditioner was finally invented in 1902 by Willis Carrier in Buffalo, New York. Of course, it would take many years before air conditioning was widely available in most homes. In 1945, Robert Sherman invented the portable window unit that allowed residential air conditioning to finally be possible for most of the American middle class. By the year 1980, the United States was using more air conditioning than all the other countries of the world combined.
In order to keep you air condition running properly, it is a good idea to perform regular air conditioning maintenance. Most experts recommend having your unit looked at by a professional once a year in the spring time, before the summer begins. This way you will not be without air conditioning when you need it most. Because energy use during the summer often leads to black outs, you may want to invest home generator systems. Home generator systems will insure that you are not without power or air conditioning in the event of a black out. This is especially important for the elderly and those who are particularly susceptible to the heat. Remember to turn your air conditioning unit off when leaving the house in order to save energy at home.
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