Willis Carrier
Willis Haviland Carrier (November 26, 1876 – October 7, 1950) was an American engineer, best known for inventing modern air conditioning. Carrier invented the first electrical air conditioning unit in 1902. In 1915, he founded Carrier Corporation, a company specializing in the manufacture and distribution of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
International Institute of Refrigeration
In the mid-19th century, demand for natural ice exploded during the summer months in Europe, North America and various colonies. Thanks to the advent of railways and steam ships, natural ice came onto the market. In order to meet demand, suppliers began looking for alternative ways of producing ice. Ferdinand Carré invented the absorption machine in 1859, then along came the vapour-compression refrigerator that is still used today.