Join Sean White as he talks with John Perlin, a well-known historian and author, about the history of solar energy and how it connects to human progress. John shares stories from his books and career, touching on everything from ancient solar use to the role of forests in shaping our world. It’s a laid-back, insightful episode for anyone into solar, history, or just learning something new.

 

Topics covered:

Intersolar

Eicke Weber

UC Berkley

Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems

Smarter E

Hermann Scheer

Hans Josef Fell

Feed in Tariff

NREL = National Renewable Energy Laboratory

International Solar Energy Society

University of California Santa Barbara

Monty Python

Keeling Curve

Solar Water Heater

Roman, Greek & China History

Heliocaminus

Photovoltaic History

Bell Labs

Calvin Fuller

Daryl Chapin

Gerald Pearson

Becquerel

Thermodynamics

Albert Einstein

Solar Selenium Photovoltaic

Solid-State Solar Cell

Pier 39 Fisherman’s Wharf

UC Berkeley Alumni Camp

Barrington Hall`

Lexicon

The Wood Age

Literature

The Great Valves of Roam

Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

Ship

Solar Thermal

Iron Horses

Coal & Charcoal

UCC Monitor

USS Monitor

CSS Virginia (USS Merrimack)

John Ericsson

A Golden Thread: 2,500 Years of Solar Architecture and Technology

From Space to Earth: The Story of Solar Electricity

Let It Shine: The 6,000-Year Story of Solar Energy

A Forest Journey: The Role of Trees in the Fate of Civilization

Patagonia

Eike Webber (Herman Scheer 80th Birthday) Podcast www.podcasts.apple.com

 

Reach out to John Perlin Here:

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/john-perlin

Website: www.aforestjourney.com

John Perlin’s books: http://aforestjourney.com/  

 

Links to John Perlin’s book reviews:

Let It Shine: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/seven-of-the-greatest-solar-stories-over-the-millennia 

 

A Forest Journey:

https://botany.one/2023/05/perlins-potentially-perfect-plants-and-people-publication/  

https://time.com/6969478/forests-human-history/  

https://news.mongabay.com/2024/10/interview-with-john-perlin/  

 

Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean