Cool Comfort

Cool Comfort PDF Author: Marsha Ackermann
Publisher: Smithsonian Institution
ISBN: 1588344010
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 225

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Book Description
The year 2002 marked the 100th anniversary of the first installation of air-conditioning. During the past century, it has become a staple of American life; 83% of US homes are now air-conditioned. In this engaging social history, Marsha Ackermann explores how the idea of “cooling” became firmly embedded in the social perceptions and expectations of Americans, transforming our definition of comfort and the way we live, work, and play.

Cool Comfort

Cool Comfort PDF Author: Marsha Ackermann
Publisher: Smithsonian Institution
ISBN: 1588344010
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 225

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Book Description
The year 2002 marked the 100th anniversary of the first installation of air-conditioning. During the past century, it has become a staple of American life; 83% of US homes are now air-conditioned. In this engaging social history, Marsha Ackermann explores how the idea of “cooling” became firmly embedded in the social perceptions and expectations of Americans, transforming our definition of comfort and the way we live, work, and play.

Cool Comfort: The Journey of Air Conditioning

Cool Comfort: The Journey of Air Conditioning PDF Author: Charles Nehme
Publisher: Charles Nehme
ISBN:
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 38

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Book Description
In the scorching heat of a summer day or the stifling humidity of a tropical night, we find ourselves seeking refuge in the cool embrace of air conditioning. It has become an integral part of our daily lives, offering us comfort, productivity, and improved well-being. As we flip the switch and relish the instant relief it provides, we often overlook the fascinating journey that led to the creation and widespread adoption of this revolutionary technology. "Cool Comfort: The Journey of Air Conditioning" takes you on a captivating expedition through time, exploring the origins, pioneers, and societal impact of air conditioning. This book delves into the historical roots of cooling techniques in ancient civilizations, revealing how the ingenuity of our ancestors laid the foundation for the modern-day luxury we often take for granted. We will meet the brilliant minds who tirelessly worked to overcome challenges, perfecting air conditioning systems to cater to the needs of various industries and human habitats. From Willis Carrier's groundbreaking invention to the cutting-edge technologies of tomorrow, we will uncover how air conditioning transformed industries, shaped architecture, and became an essential part of our modern lifestyle. Beyond the practicalities, this book will also explore the cultural significance of air conditioning and its influence on human behavior and societal norms. We'll confront environmental concerns and ponder the delicate balance between comfort and sustainability, seeking a responsible approach to cooling in an ever-warming world. The chapters within "Cool Comfort" will lead you through a chronicle of human ingenuity, scientific discoveries, and societal shifts that culminated in the modern air conditioning systems that now surround us. Each page invites you to marvel at the wonders of this technology, recognize its challenges, and envision its future possibilities. As you embark on this journey, I hope you will gain a deeper appreciation for the cool comfort we experience every day, and the incredible legacy that led us here. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a technology buff, or someone curious about the forces that shape our world, I invite you to join me in exploring the captivating story of air conditioning. Let us venture forth into the cool oasis of knowledge, celebrating the achievements of the past and embracing the opportunities of the future. Sincerely, Charles Nehme Author, "Cool Comfort: The Journey of Air Conditioning"

After Cooling

After Cooling PDF Author: Eric Dean Wilson
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1982111313
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 480

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Book Description
This “ambitious [and] delightful” (The New York Times) work of literary nonfiction interweaves the science and history of the powerful refrigerant (and dangerous greenhouse gas) Freon with a haunting meditation on how to live meaningfully and morally in a rapidly heating world. In After Cooling, Eric Dean Wilson braids together air-conditioning history, climate science, road trips, and philosophy to tell the story of the birth, life, and afterlife of Freon, the refrigerant that ripped a hole larger than the continental United States in the ozone layer. As he traces the refrigerant’s life span from its invention in the 1920s—when it was hailed as a miracle of scientific progress—to efforts in the 1980s to ban the chemical (and the resulting political backlash), Wilson finds himself on a journey through the American heartland, trailing a man who buys up old tanks of Freon stockpiled in attics and basements to destroy what remains of the chemical before it can do further harm. Wilson is at heart an essayist, looking far and wide to tease out what particular forces in American culture—in capitalism, in systemic racism, in our values—combined to lead us into the Freon crisis and then out. “Meticulously researched and engagingly written” (Amitav Ghosh), this “knockout debut” (New York Journal of Books) offers a rare glimpse of environmental hope, suggesting that maybe the vast and terrifying problem of global warming is not beyond our grasp to face.

A Forever Family

A Forever Family PDF Author: Rob Scheer
Publisher: Gallery/Jeter Publishing
ISBN: 1501196642
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 320

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Book Description
In the tradition of The Promise of a Pencil and Kisses from Katie comes an inspirational memoir by the founder of Comfort Cases about his turbulent childhood in the foster care system and the countless obstacles and discrimination he endured in adopting his four children. Rob Scheer never thought that he would be living the life he is now. He’s happily married to his partner and love of his life, he’s the father of four beautiful children, and he’s the founder of an organization that makes life better for thousands of children in the foster care system. But life wasn’t always like this. Growing up in an abusive household before his placement in foster care, Rob had all the odds stacked against him. Kicked out of his foster family’s home within weeks after turning eighteen—with a year left of high school to go—he had to resort to sleeping in his car and in public bathrooms. He suffered from drug addiction and battled with depression, never knowing when his next meal would be or where he would sleep at night. But by true perseverance, he was able to find his own path and achieve his wildest dreams. “A heartwarming, hopeful memoir brimming with humanitarianism and compassion” (Kirkus Reviews), Rob’s story provides a glimpse into what it’s like to grow up in the foster care system, and sheds necessary light on the children who are often treated without dignity. Both a timely call to action and a courageous and candid account of life in the foster care system, A Forever Family ultimately leaves you with one message: one person can make a difference.

LIFE

LIFE PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 144

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Book Description
LIFE Magazine is the treasured photographic magazine that chronicled the 20th Century. It now lives on at LIFE.com, the largest, most amazing collection of professional photography on the internet. Users can browse, search and view photos of today’s people and events. They have free access to share, print and post images for personal use.

The Comfort Crisis

The Comfort Crisis PDF Author: Michael Easter
Publisher: Rodale Books
ISBN: 0593138775
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 292

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Book Description
“If you’ve been looking for something different to level up your health, fitness, and personal growth, this is it.”—Melissa Urban, Whole30 CEO and New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Boundaries “Michael Easter’s genius is that he puts data around the edges of what we intuitively believe. His work has inspired many to change their lives for the better.”—Dr. Peter Attia, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Outlive Discover the evolutionary mind and body benefits of living at the edges of your comfort zone and reconnecting with the wild—from the author of Scarcity Brain, coming in September! In many ways, we’re more comfortable than ever before. But could our sheltered, temperature-controlled, overfed, underchallenged lives actually be the leading cause of many our most urgent physical and mental health issues? In this gripping investigation, award-winning journalist Michael Easter seeks out off-the-grid visionaries, disruptive genius researchers, and mind-body conditioning trailblazers who are unlocking the life-enhancing secrets of a counterintuitive solution: discomfort. Easter’s journey to understand our evolutionary need to be challenged takes him to meet the NBA’s top exercise scientist, who uses an ancient Japanese practice to build championship athletes; to the mystical country of Bhutan, where an Oxford economist and Buddhist leader are showing the world what death can teach us about happiness; to the outdoor lab of a young neuroscientist who’s found that nature tests our physical and mental endurance in ways that expand creativity while taming burnout and anxiety; to the remote Alaskan backcountry on a demanding thirty-three-day hunting expedition to experience the rewilding secrets of one of the last rugged places on Earth; and more. Along the way, Easter uncovers a blueprint for leveraging the power of discomfort that will dramatically improve our health and happiness, and perhaps even help us understand what it means to be human. The Comfort Crisis is a bold call to break out of your comfort zone and explore the wild within yourself.

Cool

Cool PDF Author: Salvatore Basile
Publisher: Fordham University Press
ISBN: 0823261786
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 289

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Book Description
It’s a contraption that makes the lists of “Greatest Inventions Ever”; at the same time, it’s accused of causing global disaster. It has changed everything from architecture to people’s food habits to their voting patterns, to even the way big business washes its windows. It has saved countless lives . . . while causing countless deaths. Most of us are glad it’s there. But we don’t know how, or when, it got there. It’s air conditioning. For thousands of years, humankind attempted to do something about the slow torture of hot weather. Everything was tried: water power, slave power, electric power, ice made from steam engines and cold air made from deadly chemicals, “zephyrifers,” refrigerated beds, ventilation amateurs and professional air-sniffers. It wasn’t until 1902 when an engineer barely out of college developed the “Apparatus for Treating Air”—a machine that could actually cool the indoors—and everyone assumed it would instantly change the world. That wasn’t the case. There was a time when people “ignored” hot weather while reading each day’s list of heat-related deaths, women wore furs in the summertime, heatstroke victims were treated with bloodletting . . . and the notion of a machine to cool the air was considered preposterous, even sinful. The story of air conditioning is actually two stories: the struggle to perfect a cooling device, and the effort to convince people that they actually needed such a thing. With a cast of characters ranging from Leonardo da Vinci and Richard Nixon to Felix the Cat, Cool showcases the myriad reactions to air conditioning— some of them dramatic, many others comical and wonderfully inconsistent—as it was developed and presented to the world. Here is a unique perspective on air conditioning’s fascinating history: how we rely so completely on it today, and how it might change radically tomorrow.

LIFE

LIFE PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 110

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Book Description
LIFE Magazine is the treasured photographic magazine that chronicled the 20th Century. It now lives on at LIFE.com, the largest, most amazing collection of professional photography on the internet. Users can browse, search and view photos of today’s people and events. They have free access to share, print and post images for personal use.

LIFE

LIFE PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 194

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Book Description
LIFE Magazine is the treasured photographic magazine that chronicled the 20th Century. It now lives on at LIFE.com, the largest, most amazing collection of professional photography on the internet. Users can browse, search and view photos of today’s people and events. They have free access to share, print and post images for personal use.

LIFE

LIFE PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 176

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Book Description
LIFE Magazine is the treasured photographic magazine that chronicled the 20th Century. It now lives on at LIFE.com, the largest, most amazing collection of professional photography on the internet. Users can browse, search and view photos of today’s people and events. They have free access to share, print and post images for personal use.