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