History of Solar Energy

History of Solar Energy

Solar energy dates back on how it was used during the ancient times. The Greeks and Romans worked together to create solar energy over 2000 years ago. The Greeks were the first people to use solar energy to warm and buildings. They found that by constructing their homes and buildings in a certain way they could make use of the sun during winter. While it may have been difficult for these ancient people to understand solar energy, entire cities was built this way in 400 BC. The Romans used sun one word for central heating and to heat water in their large central baths quickly, as the burning of wood was consuming forests around Rome. The Greeks discovered and introduced glass in the first century AD. Dark colored pottery was used to store goods and therefore increase thermal energy. The Romans and Greeks built houses to run by solar energy and even built a glasshouse to grow cucumbers for Tiberius Caesar.
1st written account of solar energy use: 4th century BC when a scarcity of wood forced fuelwood imports from Middle East

Socrates principles:

  • 1. main rooms should face south
  • 2. north side of buildings should be shielded from the cold winds
  • 3. eaves should be added to provide shade for south windows in summer

    Romans:
    Central heating and large central baths quickly consumed forests around Rome
    Romans expanded use of solar energy:
    1st century AD introduced glass (recognized greenhouse effect)
    used dark colors and pottery to store thermal energy
    1st to legislate domestic solar rights (2nd century AD)
    37 AD: 1st greenhouse used to grow cucumbers for Tiberius Caesar

    Other early civilizations (Chinese, Anasazi, Pueblo) used solar energy for heating, water evaporation, and other applications

    Timeline


    1515: Leonardo da Vinci conceived of a parabolic mirror concentrator to dye clothing

    1700's
    1700: Antoine LaVoisier built a solar furnace that could melt platinum (3236°F, 1780°C)

    1767: Horace de Saussure invents 1st flat plat collector (Switzerland)

    1800's
    early 1880's: US engineer John Ericsson (designer of Monitor ironclad ship) designed and demonstrated a solar heat engine

    1900's
    circa 1920: natural gas discovered in California, end of solar energy
    1923: Solar water heater industry moved to Florida
    1939: MIT built 1st active solar house
    1941: Government froze civilian use of copper due to WWII, halting production of solar water heaters
    circa 1950: US lifestyle changes made solar water heaters too small
    1950's: cheap electricity and fossil fuels made solar products too expensive
    1973: OPEC Energy Crisis causes US to reexamine use of renewable energy sources; federal and state tax credits result in rapid growth for a new solar industry
    1986: tax credits for residential solar systems ended causing 30,000 US workers to lose jobs
    1996: Solar energy used to heat water for swimming events at Atlanta Olympic Games
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