OLLI-ENVI-3050 - Harnessing the Sun's Energy in the Past, Present, & Especially the Future

Course Description

From ancient civilizations through our grandparents, we understood how to live in harmony with the sun. Since the Industrial Age we've manipulated our environment, using science to harness fossil fuels to be our servants. In recent years we've realized the error of this strategy and now science has offered us a new plan of action. Since the oil embargo of the early '70's, research into building materials and techniques, energy efficiency for building and transportation, and, in most recent years, converting the sun's energy directly into electricity has offered us a way to use the sun as our servant once again. We'll look at the the development of solar electricity and how most of our energy needs are being transitioned to this renewable resource. We'll also review how energy conservation is still as important as ever to reduce heating and cooling needs in our homes. Insulate before your InSOLate.