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

John Perlin: Solar Historian, Forest Historian and Author