You might not think about how the invention of air conditioning changed businesses, but it did.
Think about it this way:
Has the air conditioning in your building ever gone berserk? Shut down on the hottest day of summer at the hottest time of day? Have ever been assaulted with calls from tenants complaining about their air conditioning?
The answer is probably yes. Air conditioning is something we take for granted until we don’t have it. Only then do we realize how incredibly beneficial it is.
Air conditioning has revolutionized businesses since it was introduced in 1902. Here are 6 really cool facts about how it changed commercial entities forever.
ONE: Carrier makes “COOL” possible for commercial buildings
Willis Carrier was a young engineer working for Buffalo Forge Company who had been tasked with helping Sackett & Wilhelms Lithography and Printing Company solve a problem. The humidity in their building caused the paper to shrink and the edges to curl. The shifting paper size made it difficult to correctly align colors in a four-color print run.
Carrier designed a system that used cold water and coils and was able to maintain a constant 55% humidity.
His invention was the start of modern air conditioning and changed businesses forever.
Carrier established Carrier Air Conditioning Company in 1915 and nothing was ever the same.
Once air conditioning equipment was developed and began to be installed, businesses’ productivity was improved. No more closures because of heatwaves. No more sleepy and sluggish workers. Productivity improved with fewer equipment malfunctions.
TWO: Movies and the Beginning of the Summer Blockbuster
One of the first commercial establishments to embrace air conditioning was the theater industry. Cinema in the 1930s was a very big thing. Before television, 85 MILLION people a week flocked to movie theaters to watch films from what is now known as “the Golden Age of Hollywood.” They also watched newsreels.
Theaters attracted more movie-goers with air conditioning. In fact, so many people wanted to go sit in a cool movie house during the hot summer that filmmakers started making special features to attract the attention of the masses.
The summer blockbuster was born – and still exists – thanks to air conditioning!
THREE: Retail gets cool
Movie theaters weren’t the only ones who cashed in on the benefits of air conditioning.
As technology and equipment improved, air conditioning of large commercial buildings was an economically viable option.
Shopping malls and restaurants began integrating air conditioning into their designs, catering to the comfort of customers and diners.
Having cool, comfortable surroundings led to a rise in shopping and eating out in air-conditioned facilities. One study suggests that the implementation of air conditioning in shopping malls increased the average customer shopping time by nearly 25%. The longer they shopped, the more they bought. Malls that had air conditioning showed a 30% increase in sales revenue over ones that did not.
FOUR: Hotels Cashed in on the Cool-Air-Era, too
A night in air-conditioned comfort promised by motels and hotels with new air conditioning promoted an increase in bookings. The American Hotel & Lodging Association reported that the presence of air conditioning in hotel rooms directly affected guest satisfaction. In fact, nearly 80% of guests listed air conditioning as an essential amenity when choosing a hotel. As a result, hotels investing in modern air conditioning systems experienced higher occupancy rates and improved customer reviews.
Goodbye, night sweats. Hello, sweet dreams!
FIVE: Air Conditioning enhances business productivity
During the 1960s, air conditioning gained prominence in office buildings and corporate environments. Banks. Law Offices. Accounting firms. The invention of air conditioning gave building owners the ability to maintain a controlled and comfortable temperature enhancing productivity by as much as 25% and employee satisfaction increases, too. Studies show that a well-regulated indoor environment significantly reduces employee absenteeism, leading to increased efficiency and overall company success.
SIX: The invention of air conditioning cut costs and improved profits – then and now
In the United States, the average commercial building spends $10,000 per year on energy costs.
If a business has air conditioning, it should have the best possible equipment because efficient systems cut costs in the long run. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, energy-efficient air conditioning units can reduce cooling costs by up to 40%. This allows businesses to allocate their resources more effectively, investing in other areas to enhance their offerings and customer experience.
Efficient systems decrease the amount of energy needed as well as reduce the amount of fuel emissions.
ELITE HVAC can revolutionize your business and your building, too
We are skilled, experienced problem solvers who can find creative solutions to your commercial HVAC problems. We work with multiple manufacturers, have skilled technicians, and have more than twenty-five years of expertise.
Call us for quotes, questions, or a Customized Commercial Care Plan for your facility.
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