What started as an invention to control humidity in a US printing plant in 1902 has forever changed the way people in Saudi Arabia and around the world live, work and play. July marks the 110th anniversary of the invention of modern air conditioning by Dr. Willis H. Carrier, inventor and founder of Carrier, the world's leader in high technology heating, air conditioning and refrigeration solutions and a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. In Saudi Arabia, the development of air conditioning has enabled business and day-to-day life to thrive. As a company, Carrier has a long and notable history in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, dating back to1952. The long tradition of cooling Saudi Arabia continued, and in 1978, the University of Riyadh's new campus site deployed six 5,000 ton centrifugal chillers, designed to cool administrative buildings, classrooms, dormitories, and an athletic center. Carrier most recently also won the contract to replace these older 17DA chillers with the latest generation 17DA models at King Saud University in Riyadh. In the early 1980s, Carrier provided 52,000 tons of air conditioning capacity “for every conceivable indoor function" to the King Khaled Military City located near Al-Batin. Carrier was also involved in cooling projects in the industrial ports of Jubail and Yanbu, Al Akaria Shopping Complex in Riyadh, Al Mutlaq Tower in Makkah and Fiber Glass Factory in Jubail. In addition to distribution operations, Carrier has its principle factory for high-ambient HVAC products, the Saudi Air conditioning Manufacturing Company, a joint venture. Carrier also introduced its popular Distinguished Sustainability Lecture Series in the region in 2011, designed to deliver lectures that feature international experts in the field of green building and sustainability. – SG
