Cooling - Reibou (English spelling)

It refers to lowering the temperature and humidity inside a room during times of high temperature and humidity, and providing a comfortable (suitable) environment for people (objects). However, when used in conjunction with heating and also controlling the cleanliness of the indoor air, it is called air conditioning, and is distinguished from this. Air conditioning technology is new, and developed rapidly in the early 20th century in America, where temperatures are hotter and more humid than in Europe. Initially, air conditioning was used in spinning and printing factories to improve the quality of products, not for the comfort of the workers. Even in Japan, most prewar air conditioning equipment was only installed in spinning factories. In recent years, air conditioning has become widespread, including in homes, cars, and trains, but poor health caused by excessive cooling or heat stress due to sudden changes in temperature between inside and outside the room (so-called air conditioning illness) has become a new problem. Special types of air conditioning include air-conditioned clothing, which cools the body using the clothing itself, and spot cooling, which cools only the area near the worker in a high-temperature factory.

[Harunori Yoshida]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

高温多湿時に室内の温湿度を下げ、人（物）に対して快適（適切）な環境を提供することをいう。ただし、暖房と併用し、室内空気の清浄度制御も行うものは空気調和とよび区別している。冷房の技術は新しく、20世紀初頭、ヨーロッパに比べて高温多湿なアメリカにおいて急速に発展した。当初、冷房は紡績・印刷工場などで生産品の品質向上のために行われ、働く人間の快適のためではなかった。わが国でも戦前の冷房設備の大半は紡績工場に設置されたにとどまる。近年では住宅、自動車、列車に及ぶまで広範に冷房が行われるようになった反面、冷えすぎや室内と外界の温度の急変による熱ストレスが原因となる体調不良（いわゆる冷房病）が新たな問題となっている。なお、特殊な冷房として、衣服そのもので体を冷却する冷房服、高温の工場で作業者の近くだけを冷やす局所冷房spot coolingがある。

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