The concept of air conditioning, which involves controlling not only temperature but also humidity and air quality, emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1902, Willis Carrier, an American engineer, invented the first modern air conditioner. Carrier designed a system that controlled humidity and temperature for the Buffalo, New York, offices of the publishing company Sackett & Wilhelms Lithographing & Publishing Company.
At the heart of the drive toward better cooling technology is the most significant change in refrigerants in three decades. Traditional hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)—such as R-404A (GWP 3,922) and R-410A (GWP 2,088)—have extremely high Global Warming Potential. Under regulations like the AIM Act in the United States, restrictions on higher-GWP HFCs took effect in early 2025, and by 2026, all new commercial refrigeration equipment must use refrigerants with a Global Warming Potential below 150 or 300. refrigeration and air conditioning technology better