Because of the large amount of solar heat the device retained, it became known as a Hot Box. When he tilted the box toward the sun, the inner box rose above the boiling point of water. He placed a similar but smaller glass-covered box inside. Saussure built a rectangular box from wood, insulated with black cork and its top covered with glass. de Saussure set out to determine how effectively glass could trap solar heat. The increased use of glass during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries reawakened the awareness of its ability to trap solar heat. On sunny winter days the doors separating the greenhouse from the home were opened to allow sun-warmed air to circulate freely into the formerly chilly interior. South-facing greenhouses became popular to trap solar heat to encourage the growth of such exotic plants in the colder climate of Europe, unduly frigid due to the advent of the “Little Ice-Age.” Sometimes a greenhouse was attached to the south-side of home’s living room or library, transforming the “dull interior” into a “vibrant” and warm space where people would congregate. Glass was not used again to trap solar heat until the wealthy citizens of the Age of Discovery wanted to enjoy oranges and other fruits from Asia and the New World. With the decline of the Roman Empire, the use of transparent glass all but disappeared. People from London to Paris watched in awe as experimenters concentrated rays of the sun to melt metals and vitrify glass in seconds.Ĭhapter 5: Heat for Horticulture (1500s-1800s) The sketch books of Leonardo show that the great Italian technologist had great solar ambitions to use concave mirrors for industrial heating. When natural scientists of the renaissance learned of these inventions, many envisioned using them as the ultimate weapon, burning whole armies and fleets with concentrated power of the sun. Both used them to kindle wood for cooking. Many centuries later, around the 5th century BCE, the Greeks independently developed such solar devices.
#LET IT SHINE HOW TO#
Three thousand years ago the Chinese discovered how to make concave reflectors to turn sunlight into fire. Facing structures to the winter sun became so popular in Roman times that sun-right laws were passed, making it a civil offense to block one’s access to the south.Ĭhapter 4: Burning Mirrors (1000 BC-1800) Transparent materials like mica or glass, the Romans discovered, acts as a solar heat trap, admitting sunlight into the desired space and holding in the heat so it accumulates inside.
#LET IT SHINE WINDOWS#
They also had their large windows covered with either transparent stone like mica or clear glass, a Roman invention of the 1st century ACE, one of the great breakthroughs in building and solar technology. From the times of the early empire onward, most faced the afternoon sun in wintertime when they had maximum use. Baths were especially popular among the Romans but demanded a great amount of heat. From literature of the time it appears many followed Vitruvius’ instructions. When writing his great work On Architecture, he emphasized proper solar orientation for buildings and bath houses. Rome’s greatest architect Vitruvius saw solar houses while on duty as a military engineer in recently conquered Greece. Retrofits in Athens followed by whole cities such as Olynthus, Priene, Delos and many others, as well as rural dwellings, show that solar architecture became ubiquitous in Greece and its surroundings for centuries.Ĭhapter 3: Roman Solar Architecture (100 BC-500 AD) Archaeological digs have confirmed that the ancient Greek builders followed the advice of these sages. Aristotle also taught his students the value of designing houses to make maximum use of the winter sun and to keep the house in shade during the hotter months. Socrates was outspoken about the value of building with the sun in mind for the comfort of the occupants. Over the millennia Chinese cities followed such planning and still today the Chinese favor a south-facing home.Ĭhapter 2: Solar Architecture in Ancient Greece (500 BC-100 BC) Knowledge gained from these studies stimulated Chinese urban planners to construct the main streets of towns to run east to west to allow every house to look to the south to catch the winter sun for supplementary heating. Two thousand years later the Chinese began to formally study the movement of the sun throughout the year in relationship to the earth. The overhanging thatched roof kept the high summer sun off the houses throughout the day so those inside would stay cool. They did this to catch the rays of the low winter sun to help warm the interior. Six thousand years ago Neolithic Chinese villagers had the sole opening of their homes face south. John Perlin - 6000 Years of Solar Architecture and TechnologyĪuthor, Lecturer, Consultant - Solar Energy & Forest PreservationĬhapter 1: Solar Architecture in Ancient China (6000 BC -)
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