| During the twentieth century air conditioning has | | | | there are some jobs where the comfort of the |
| been used in many ways to enhance our quality | | | | workers is secondary to the needs of the |
| of life. Since the 1950s new houses and | | | | process being carried out. Today's air conditioning |
| commercial buildings have been built very much | | | | evolved from the need for temperature and |
| with the comfort of the occupants in mind. | | | | humidity controls in textile mills. |
| Although the technology to achieve a high degree | | | | Of course the great change in the transportation |
| of comfort in buildings was available many years | | | | habits of people in the Western world has also led |
| before this, it was not really financially viable for | | | | to another common use for air conditioning. Both |
| mass production in domestic properties at the low | | | | commercial public transport vehicles and private |
| end of the market. Commercial air conditioning has | | | | cars are now routinely fitted with systems to |
| a longer history, but recent advances have | | | | filter, regulate and even purify the air. With the |
| improved the efficiency and reliability of the | | | | modern lifestyle in the Western world meaning |
| equipment to a marked degree. | | | | that more time is spent in vehicles, the need has |
| Air conditioning has actually been used in private | | | | increased to make the environment in those |
| homes since the times of the Ancient Egyptians, | | | | vehicles more comfortable. It is not only on hot |
| although of course this was strictly for the rich | | | | days that the inside of a vehicle becomes |
| and powerful. It was only once air conditioning | | | | uncomfortable to be in. On a cool but sunny day |
| became established in commercial use, in textile | | | | the temperature can still rise to an uncomfortable |
| mills where temperature and humidity control are | | | | level in a fully enclosed vehicle. As well as helping |
| absolutely essential, that it transferred into homes | | | | with temperature control, air conditioning can help |
| on any large scale. The years immediately | | | | with reducing pollution levels in an environment |
| following the Second World War saw the greatest | | | | where people are very much at risk. |
| expansion in the inclusion of air conditioning built in | | | | From being an exclusive preserve of the rich and |
| to new homes. These developments have had a | | | | powerful in ancient times, air conditioning has |
| profound effect on the construction industry and | | | | become so common that there can hardly be |
| on urban planning, because it has allowed for the | | | | anyone in the Western world who does not |
| building of much taller buildings. This is because the | | | | derive some benefit from it. Even if you live in |
| speed of the wind at high altitude makes natural | | | | one of the few modern homes not equipped with |
| ventilation difficult. | | | | it, the chances are that you will work in a |
| As well as enjoying comfortable living conditions at | | | | workplace fitted with some form of temperature |
| home, many modern workers carry out their | | | | and humidity control. Air conditioning is one of the |
| daily job in an environment enhanced for optimum | | | | great benefits to have become available to the |
| comfort and performance. Scientific tests have | | | | masses in the twentieth century and with modern |
| now been carried out to ascertain the optimum | | | | research the ozone harming gases are being |
| temperature conditions for different types of | | | | replaced with more environmentally friendly |
| work tasks to be carried out in and advanced | | | | options. There is no doubt that air conditioning will |
| systems of air conditioning have now been | | | | continue to benefit humanity throughout the |
| developed to produce these conditions no matter | | | | coming century. |
| what the weather conditions outside. Of course | | | | |