In recent years solar power has become more accessible and more popular than ever before, granting homeowners benefits that include increased home value and an additional source of income.

While we now associate solar with cutting edge technology, it has provided energy for many civilizations throughout the ages. From an ancient Greek ‘death ray’ to modern cell phone chargers, below is a roundup of solar usage throughout history.

Sun Rooms

One of the most common uses of solar energy in early times were ‘sunrooms.’ These were rooms optimally oriented to receive maximum sunlight, creating a naturally heated space that saved on resources like wood or coal.

Many different civilizations took advantage of solar heating, including ancient Chinese, Greeks, Romans, and even the Anasazi Indians, whose building orientation indicated an advanced understanding of sun and moon movements. Houses today still frequently try to take advantage of natural lighting, although they have many more options when it comes to harnessing solar power.

Solar Concentrators

Another technology that was practiced in ancient times was the solar concentrator. This item functioned as a sort of mirror which could be used to ignite materials. Ancient Chinese had yang suis, which according to the writings of Confucious, were bronze concave tools used to light cooking fires.

The Greeks were also aware of this technology. According to popular myth, the inventor Archimedes used several mirrors to concentrate the sun’s energy and create a ‘death ray’ which could set incoming ships ablaze. While this ingenious strategy is widely believed to be fictional, it does demonstrate an understanding of solar concentrator use.

Solar Oven

In 1767, Swiss physicist Horace de Saussure invented a solar oven which could naturally heat food. Made with several layers of glass and a black lining, sunlight would enter and reflect back, allowing the inside temperature to reach 87.5 degrees Celsius.  

Solar Steam Engine

The first solar steam engine was built by French engineer Augustine Mouchot in 1866. He achieved this by focusing “a parabolic mirror onto a one-inch tube in which the water was turned into steam.” This invention triggered many other contemporary inventors to focus their attention on solar energy. Their efforts culminated in the first commercial solar plant, erected in Egypt in 1914. Unfortunately, the plant’s success was interrupted by World War I and plans for additional solar plants were abandoned.

Solar Water Heaters

Solar-powered water heaters became popular in Los Angeles around 1891. Promoted by inventor Clarence Kemp, the 25-gallon tanks could provide hot water day and night using sun-exposed pipes and special insulation. Although they eventually lost popularity due to cheap oil prices, they did successfully spread to other parts of the world.

Solar Power Today

Thanks to many centuries of study, solar energy is now becoming a viable alternative to traditional energy sources. As we know, solar power today can be used to generate power for residential buildings or large commercial properties.

We are able to harness the sun at efficiency rates that scientists could previously only dream of, increasing the number of potential applications. Solar energy is even being used for more convenient and everyday purposes like powering mobile devices.

These new additions to the solar market are hopeful indications that uses of clean energy sources will become even more widespread in the years to come.

If you’d like to find out how installing solar panels on your roof can help you drive your electric bill down to zero, contact us today for a free quote.