Air conditioning

Description

A mechanical system used in building interiors to monitor, modify, and maintain air temperature, humidity, and ventilation levels as well as remove dust, smells and other pollutants from the air stream. Air conditioning systems, first used in 1902, began to spread in the 1920s and was commonly included in public buildings in the U.S. by the 1950s.

Synonyms and Related Terms

air-conditioning; cooling system; AC; air-con (Br.); Klimaanlage (Deut.); acondicionamiento de aire (Esp.); climatisation (Fr.); airconditioning (Ned.); ar condicionado (Port.); luftkonditionering (Sven.)

Sources Checked for Data in Record

• ASTM, Standard Terminology Relating to Conditioning, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Section 6, Paints, Related Coatings and Aromatics, ASTM, E41, 23-24, Sep-92

• Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "air-conditioning" Encyclopædia Britannica from Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service. [Accessed September 24, 2003]. (first used in 1906)

• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_conditioing (Accessed Mar. 1, 2006) Central air conditioning first used in 1902 in the New York Stock Exchange's new building. ...term coined in 1906