National Temperature Control Day – September 23, 2022, history significance why we celebrate
Surprise! Despite what various holiday weekend sales events would have you believe, summer does not begin on Memorial Day — nor does it end on Labor Day.
One thing’s for sure though — as summer turns to fall, things will get a little “chill,” and not just in a millennial kind of way. That’s why we celebrate National Temperature Control Day on September 23 — the Northern Hemisphere’s fall equinox — otherwise known as the first “official” day of autumn.
This year, we’re thrilled to partner with the highly innovative American manufacturing company PolyScience to bring you this holiday. PolyScience has provided the world with precise and reliable temperature control solutions since 1963. Their dedication to quality and ease of operation has resulted in a global presence spanning six continents.
A wide variety of businesses turn to PolyScience to help control their temperature needs all year long. The list ranges from culinary, automotive, and lasers — to lab research, aerospace, and even the cannabis industry.
This national holiday marks the official beginning of fall when things get just a bit “cooler” for everyone.
After that, autumn starts to usher in golden leaves, Halloween, Thanksgiving, family gatherings, and falling temperatures. Weather patterns remain beyond our control, although inside, the temperature’s always under control, especially when fall turns a bit frosty.
But we’ve still got some time for all of that. Get comfortable as we celebrate both National Temperature Control Day and the approach of fall.
NATIONAL TEMPERATURE CONTROL DAY TIMELINE
1714
Fahrenheit comes first
German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit creates the mercury thermometer. His famous temperature scale (now used in only a few countries) follows ten years later. Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius invents his scale (also known as centigrade) in 1742. Fahrenheit has 180 degrees separating the freezing and boiling points of water, while centigrade has an easier-to-remember 100.
1830s
Too hot in here?
Credit for the modern thermostat generally goes to Scottish chemist Andrew Ure — who created a bimetallic version for textile mills. The thermostat would bend as one of the metals expanded in response to increased temperature — thereby controlling the mills’ energy supply. American Warren S. Johnson patents a bimetal room thermostat in 1883.
1963
PolyScience
Seaton T. Preston creates the Illinois-based startup company — which goes on to sell over a million temperature control solutions to large, well-respected manufacturers and distributors. Among the brand’s innovations? An award-winning line of culinary products. (The Food Network honored the brand with a technology award in 2007.)
2003
PSL: Autumn’s official drink
Starbucks exec Peter Dukes, who arrived at the company with a BA in Economics and an MBA from Stanford, comes up with a new idea for a fall espresso flavor. As it happens, Dukes and his former Cardinal basketball teammates used to alternate sips of espresso with bites of pumpkin pie. Do you see where we’re going here? Starbucks has now sold more than 350 million pumpkin spice lattes in 50 countries.
2019
Snow before Halloween?
Grab a coat — it could happen. The Old Farmer’s Almanac calls for a trace of October snow in the Northeast, Appalachians, Lower Lakes, Upper Midwest, High Plains, and Alaska. Expect flurries in Atlantic Canada, western Ontario, and the Prairies as well.
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NATIONAL TEMPERATURE CONTROL DAY ACTIVITIES
Drink in the season
Need some ideas? We checked with the Food Network’s Canadian editors (who know the seasons quite well) for an “autumn drink” list. Their top three include Hot Buttered Rum, Classic Pumpkin Spice Latte (of course), and Hot Mulled Cider — which they claim can help soothe the common cold.
Check your home’s heating system
Let’s get this out of the way before a rare autumn frost hits. Experts recommend to start by replacing your furnace filter (if necessary); checking your heating system for cracks, rust, leaks, holes, or other damage; and making sure all of your heating vents are open and unblocked.
Shop for fall fashion
It’s the season for jeans, jackets, belts, sweaters, and knee-high boots. Shorts and crop tops are fun for summer, but autumn brings out your inner runway model. So many choices! The key word for fall? Layering, of course. Autumn has unexpected (and sudden) weather changes. Stay a step ahead by enabling yourself to adjust on the go.
6 PLACES WHERE YOU WILL TOTALLY FALL FOR AUTUMN
Kyoto, Japan
Check out Tofukuji, a large 13th-century Zen temple in southeastern Kyoto, famous for spectacular autumn colors. Don’t miss the Tsutenkyo Bridge, which spans a valley of lush maple trees. Fall colors peak in mid November.
Average November 15 high temperature (Kyoto): 62F
New England
The fun begins in late September with a burst of color throughout Maine and New Hampshire. Things move south by late October — where you’ll find the best autumn views (and hues) in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
Average October 15 high temperature (Bartlett, NH): 58F
Iceland
Aim for September and October when prices tend to drop. Get set for gorgeous autumn colors, the first snow, and even the Northern Lights!
Average October 10 high temperature (Reykjavik): 42F
Chicago
Joy Morton envisioned a “great outdoor museum” of trees when he established The Morton Arboretum in 1922. It’s a 1,700-acre autumn paradise just 30 miles west of downtown.
Average November 1 high temperature (Chicago): 56F
Ontario
Colorful Canada! Red maple, yellow poplar, and white birch make Ontario’s landscape a must-see autumn affair. Try an aerial or rail tour for even more spectacular views.
Average November 1 high temperature (Ottawa): 50F
Bavaria (Germany)
Catch autumn fairs and festivals throughout the season. Experts recommend one of the many “pilgrim paths” that run through Bavaria. The King Ludwig trail is a highlight.
Average November 1 high temperature (Nuremberg): 49F
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL TEMPERATURE CONTROL DAY
You can ‘feel it in the air’
Unless you reside in the tropics (or the Arctic), autumn has a way of getting your attention. Depending on how far north you actually live, the sun seems to vanish five or six minutes earlier every night. Temperatures drop and sweaters appear. Summer was fun, but things are about to get real.
Autumn poetry
Check out this seasonal (and somber) opening from Robert Frost’s “My November Guest” (1913):
“My Sorrow, when she’s here with me,
Thinks these dark days of autumn rain
Are beautiful as days can be…”
This comes from A Boy’s Will, Frost’s first commercially published book of poems. Not bad for a first try.
Nature on full display
Birds. Leaves. Trees. Animals. They all have their specific roles when the season starts to turn. Autumn tends to spark change in every living creature (and plant) in one way or another — and they all stage quite a show throughout October and November.
