A HISTORY 5 COOL FACTS ABOUT AIR CONDITIONING
Willis Haviland Carrier is considered the father of modern air conditioning thanks to his inventions, patents, and research. The Carrier Corporation founder developed the first electric A/C unit in 1902. He is credited with the discovery of one of the key principles of cool air: humidity control. Air conditioning was one of the driving forces behind the success of cinemas in the 1920s. At the time, air conditioning hadn’t yet arrived to the home market. It was still an extreme luxury — very expensive and very bulky. Many film historians thank A/C for establishing the summer movie season. When it was hot outside, patrons could see a movie to cool off. In fact, many theaters advertised cool air as part of the moviegoing experience. The first car company to offer air conditioning was Packard in 1939. The option was not popular with consumers. It was bulky, taking up most of the available trunk space, and an expensive feature at $274 ($4,800 today). By
1941, Packard took the option off the market. It wasn’t until the 1950s that A/C returned as an option and more car companies began to offer the luxury. It finally became standard in 1968 when American Motors put it in all of their AMC Ambassadors. In the 1940s, though A/C hadn’t yet taken off in automobiles, it was becoming slightly more common in homes. Window-mounted units were showing up in stores, and while it was still a luxury item, it was quickly becoming more practical — though few families could afford one. The average window-mounted A/C unit cost about $350 ($6,000 today). Jumping ahead several decades to present day, about 87 percent of American households have an air conditioner, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In the Northeast, the most common type of A/C is the window or wall unit, while central A/C is more popular in the South and Midwest.
Willis Carrier, inventor of the first A/C unit.
ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON BREADCRUMBS
HAVE A LAUGH!
Spring is the height of asparagus season. This dish, which features the crunch of breadcrumbs and a refreshing splash of lemon, is the perfect way to highlight the natural flavors of the vegetable without overwhelming them.
INGREDIENTS
• 2 pounds asparagus • 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • Kosher salt • Freshly ground pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, minced • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs • 1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley, chopped • 2 teaspoons lemon zest • Juice of one lemon (not packaged lemon juice)
DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oven to 425 F. Toss asparagus with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on baking sheet and bake for 20–26 minutes, turning asparagus halfway through. 2. When asparagus is nearly done, heat remaining olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add breadcrumbs and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and fold in parsley and lemon zest. 3. Transfer asparagus to serving platter, drizzle with lemon juice, and top with breadcrumb mixture.
Recipe inspired by Food and Wine Magazine
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