Many people believe that air conditioning has made living in the South possible. Industry was able to migrate from the cooler, northern states to the south because of air conditioning.

You may be surprised to learn that air conditioning did not begin its life as a way of making people more comfortable. The first electric power plant opened in New York in 1882. This made energy affordable for both commercial and residential building. Soon after (1889) major cities began to use large scale refrigeration to preserve foods and perishables. At this time, it was widely known and accepted that being surrounded by cool air helped foods to last longer. However, it was not common knowledge how heat and humidity were related. The first air conditioner was built in 1902 by Willis Carrier to control humidity inside of a printing company. Using air conditioning to control the humidity levels in printing companies and textile mills was the very beginning of environment control and management.

Willis Carrier is commonly called the ‘father of air conditioning.’ He received a patent for his device in 1906 and, in 1911; Carrier presented his formula to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. This ‘Rational Psychrometric Formulae’ is still used today for calculations in the industry.

The first residential air conditioner, called ‘Weathermaker’ became available in 1928. Office buildings, banks, restaurants, hotels, movie theaters and department stores began using air conditioners in the 1930s. Air conditioning in Phoenix went a long way in making public venues and private homes more comfortable during the hot summer months.

Due to the Great Depression and World War II, residential air conditioning began to wane in popularity. However, sales began to grow once again with the end of the war. Air conditioning became widespread in the South in the 1950s. Cost effective window units became available in 1951. Currently, over 90 percent of homes and businesses in southern states are air conditioned. Air conditioning has actually improved working conditions for millions of people and towns that were previously too humid and hot to attract visitors became large, bustling cities full of life and activity.

Today, air conditioners even come in a portable form! Portable air conditioners may be what you are looking for if you want to cool the interior of your home without going through the hassle and cost of permanent installation. Portable air conditioners are also great for people who live in apartments or condos that do not permit window units. Portable units are small and convenient. You usually only have to run one exhaust hose to the outside of your house, apartment, or condo. Although effective for many different applications, it is important to keep in mind that a portable air conditioner uses a refrigeration cycle. This will reduce the humidity level in your home. If you live in an area that is dry or arid, a swamp cooler may be better suited to your needs. When deciding if a portable air conditioner is right for you, remember that although they are portable and can be moved around your home, they must be vented to the outside. Therefore, you will have to set up your portable air conditioner next to a window.

If you live in a dry, desert-like climate, you may want to consider a swamp cooler. A swamp cooler uses evaporation to cool the air. A swamp cooler will draw in hot air and force it through water soaked pads. This will decrease the temperature of the air by about 20 degrees. Swamp coolers add moisture to the air. This means that they are great for dry climates but they are not suitable for humid climates.

When deciding between a portable air conditioner and a swamp cooler, keep the following in mind:

• Both are easy to move
• Both are ideal when permanent air conditioners are not an option
• Both are cost effective
• Portable air conditioners are more suitable for humid climates
• Swamp coolers are more suitable for dry, arid climates

Regardless of the type of home or climate in which you live, you can find a cooling option that is right for you. How can air conditioning help to improve your life?

This is a guest post by Vern Marker.  Vern is a writer for an HVAC Phoenix company.  When he is not writing or blogging, he loves to travel the world. Follow his adventures on Twitter @VernMarker.

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