A new book, "The Comfort Makers," from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) features biographies on 270 men and women who have contributed to our knowledge of hvac/r over 2,000 years.

Their stories are told in a series of mini-biographies with more than 100 portraits and some 40 contemporary illustrations and advertisements. Those featured are engineers, architects, scientists, manufacturers, designers, installers and control specialists.