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	The History of Solar Power For definitions of words used on this timeline, see the glossary. Ancient Egyptians built places to live that allowed stored energy from the sun during the day, and a heat release during the night. This kind of architecture heated homes at night while keeping the temperature low during the day. Egyptians also used the sun as part of their mummification process, using the sun to dry dead bodies. The Egyptians used a form of passive solar power. 3rd Century B.C., Greek soldiers with the help of Archimedes, focused light on a Roman fleet by using mirrors. The Romans were invading a port city that did not have defenses ready for the attack. The mirrors were used to concentrate the energy of the sun, and cause the fleet's sails to burn. The Romans retreated and the Greeks were able to prevent the invasion. The Greeks used passive solar power. 100 A.D. a historical writer by the name of Pliny the Younger built a house in the northern part of Italy that had mica windows in one room. This one particular room demonstrated solar heating in that it's mica windows stored heat, and later gave it off. This room was useful because the added heat it generated lessened the amount of wood that had to be burnt. Roman bath houses had famous south facing windows that heated the rooms. Justinian code demanded "sun rights" that ensured access for individuals to the sun through sunrooms on houses and public buildings. Native Americans also built houses that used passive solar power. Houses were built into the side of cliffs or hills to allow storage of heat during the day, and a release of heat at night. 1767, the world's first solar collector was built by Swiss scientist Horace de Saussare. 1839, a physicist from France, Edmond Becquerei observes the photoelectric effect. 1880's, Visible light converting photovoltaic cells made of selenium were built and had 1- 2% efficiency. In 1891 the first commercial solar water heater was patented by the father of American solar energy, Clarence Kemp. William J. Bailley of the Carnegie Steel Company in 1908 invented a solar collector with copper coils and an insulated box. A book published by the Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company in 1947 showcased the fourty-nine greatest American solar architects. Early 1950's, A process for producing crystalline silicon of high purity was developed, called the Czochralski meter. In 1954 Bell Telephone Laboratories produced a 4% efficiency silicon PV cell, and later accomplished 11% efficiency. During the mid-1950's, the first solar water heated office building was built by architect Frank Bridgers. In 1958, A small satelitte of US Vanguard was powered by a less than one watt power solar cell. From the 1960's to the present oil prices play an important part of the economics of solar power and other alternative energy forms. In the 1960's cheap imported oil was the main energy competitor to solar power and restricted the overall solar technology market. During 1973 - 1974 the oil embargo allowed opportunity for solar power to flourish. The US Department of Energy funded the Federal Photovoltaic Utilization Program that began installation and testing of over 3,000 PV systems. In the mid 1980's incentive for business led to around 150 businesses for manufacturing industry with annual sales of $0.8 billion. Gulf War of 1990 renewed interest in solar power as an alternative to oil and petroleum products. Mid-1990's have few tax credits and incentives for solar electric homes or heating systems, yet approximately 1.2 million buildings in the US are solar heated. International markets and foreign investments especially from Germany and Japan took off in 1970, but continue to be major factors in the solar energy market.