Chapter 9
This case displays a SolarPak solar collector and publications related to Toledo's involement in solar and renewable energy.
Solar Houses
1947
“Solar Houses: An Architectural Life in Living” brochure, 1947. Libbey-Owens-Ford Company Records, MSS-066.
An early advertising brochure promoting Libbey-Owens-Ford’s Thermopane insulating windows and their application to reduce energy costs in new homes.
What they think about
1947
This booklet compiled by Libbey-Owens-Ford (presumably after the advertising of solar houses in 1947) presents perspectives and letters of support from editors, architects, industrial leaders, and bankers.
Solarometer
1949
Photograph, “Solarometer,” 1949. Libbey-Owens-Ford Company Records, MSS-066.
The Solarometer was an instrument developed by scientists at the Massachusetts Institution of Technology and purchased by L-O-F to help promote the sale of Thermopane windows in post-war homes. L-O-F salesmen took the device to trade shows to demonstrate how builders using the company’s windows could orient homes to take maximum advantage of the sun to reduce heating costs.
The Open World
1961.
“Looking at Living in the Open World” sales brochure, 1961. Libbey-Owens-Ford Company Records, MSS-066.
This brochure touted L-O-F’s Thermopane windows as a way to reduce energy costs. With insulated windows, architectural designs could feature large expanses of windows without the fear of heat loss.
Solar Energy Systems
1967-77
Libbey-Owens-Ford Solar Energy Systems sales brochures, 1976-1977. Libbey-Owens-Ford Company Records, MSS-066.
With the energy crisis of the mid-1970s, companies suddenly discovered that there was a consumer market for solar collectors. L-O-F’s systems were marketed both for home and institutional installations.
L-O-F Energy Systems
1978
“Utilizing a Natural Resource: L-O-F Energy Systems” brochure, 1978. Libbey-Owens-Ford Company Records, MSS-066.
Following the energy crisis of the late 1970s, L-O-F began heavily promoting its solar collection technology for home applications. This brochure showed a test facility for the company’s solar panels that had been erected on the campus of the University of Toledo.
SunPak Solar Collector
ca. 1980
“SunPak” Solar Collector ca. 1980. On loan from the collection of Ernest W. Weaver.
In the late 1970s, Owens-Illinois began developing the SunPak, a solar collector that uses a series of vacuum tubes to convert sunlight into heat. This is an individual tube that, combined with several more of its type, forms panels for covering large areas similar to current solar cell technology.
SunPak collector
n. d.
“SunPak” brochure and photograph, n.d. Owens-Illinois, Inc. Company Records, MSS-200.
This photograph and sales brochure show a SunPak collector and various examples of its industrial and commercial use.
UTimes article
May 1, 2000
a UTimes article about the University of Toledo's support for research related to solar energy, solar cells, and thin-film photovoltaics.
Thin films research
Winter 2002
“University Research in Thin Films and the Development of an Industry Cluster in Renewable Energy in the Toledo Metropolitan Area.” University of Toledo Office of Research, Winter 2002.
This publication summarizes some of the work done by UT faculty in developing thin film technology for application to solar energy projects.
The Relevant University
2010
Lloyd A. Jacobs and Eva Klein, The Relevant University: Making Community and Economic Engagement Matter. Toledo,OH: The University of Toledo Press, 2010.
This book, co-authored by UT’s president, makes the connection between UT’s research interests in alternative energy and the region’s future economic development.