Famous Women in the HVAC Industry

Learn About Historical Women in the HVAC Industry

According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, women make up 47% of the total workforce. That means almost half of the people that are employed today are women. But in the HVAC industry, the BLS estimated that only 2% of the people in the HVAC industry are women. 

While the HVAC industry has always been a male-dominated field, that doesn’t mean that women haven’t played important roles in developing and growing this modern marvel. With Women’s History Month here, it is important to look at industries where women have contributed greatly to the advancement of their fields. Take a moment and learn about the great women that helped develop and expand the HVAC industry. 

Who Was Alice H. Parker?

That question is somewhat difficult to answer. Alice H. Parker was an African-American who was born around the turn of the 20th century. She lived in New Jersey and was educated at an academy connected to Howard University and eventually graduated college there. 

Being dissatisfied with the efficiency of the coal and wood-burning fireplaces common in homes of her day, she designed and obtained a patent for a revolutionary system. The heating system used natural gas instead of solid fuels. It consisted of multiple individual burners that could control the temperature in separate rooms. This was the first conception of what is now known as “zone-control.”

This system was never fully implemented due to safety concerns. However, it spurred new ideas and promoted innovation in the field that eventually led to modern heating technology. 

What Were Margaret Ingels’ Contributions?

Margaret Ingels became the first woman to graduate from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1916. This made her the first female mechanical engineer in the US and the second woman to graduate as an engineer. After graduation, she signed on to work for the Carrier Engineering Corporation. 

Early designs of the air conditioner could only adjust the temperature by controlling humidity and evaporation, so Margaret puts her skills to work. She developed the “sling psychrometer,” a device people have now used in HVAC for decades to determine humidity levels. She also worked extensively to establish early air filtration systems for schools.  

The Future of Women in HVAC

The future is bright for women interested in the field of HVAC. While the field is male-dominated, there are no jobs that are closed to women. The women that work in the HVAC field perform every task that their male counterparts do. In fact, nearly 9,000 women currently work in the field nationwide, from technicians to company owners. Over the next few years, the field is expected to grow due to older HVAC technicians retiring. This gives numerous opportunities for women to take advantage of the growth in the field.  

About Albert Nahman Services

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