Air conditioners were originally invented to control the humidity in a print shop

Air conditioners were originally invented to control the humidity in a print shop, not to cool the air. In 1902, Willis Carrier developed the first modern air conditioning system to solve the problem of ink smearing and paper expansion caused by high levels of humidity. The cooling effect was a minor benefit of his invention, but it quickly became a major benefit as people realized the comfort it provided in hot weather. Today, air conditioners are in use worldwide, with over 1.6 billion units in use, accounting for roughly 10% of the world's electricity consumption. Visit