George Lof
Encyclopedia
George Oscar Löf was an American
engineer and inventor who was best known for his contributions to solar energy research.
, on 13 December 1913. His family later moved to Denver, where he graduated from East High School. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Denver
in 1935, and a PhD
in chemical engineering
from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in 1940. He married Laura Davadell Scobey in 1940.
In 1957, he built a house in the Cherry Hills neighborhood of Denver which used a novel method to collect and store solar heat. It was designed by architect James M. Hunter, and Löf designed a flat-plate collection system which heated air and circulated the heat to be stored in rock beds in large cardboard tubes inside the house. Löf published several technical papers describing the house and its performance. It cost $40,000 excluding the cost of the heating equipment, which was financed by the American Window Glass Company. Löf lived in the house for more than 50 years until his death.
In 1974, he oversaw the construction of a research home that was the world's first to also be cooled by solar energy.
Löf taught chemical engineering at the University of Colorado
and the University of Denver
before serving on the faculty of Colorado State University
in the civil engineering
department from 1967 - 1987. He founded the university's Solar Energy Applications Laboratory in 1972. From 1973 - 1975, he was the president of the International Solar Energy Society
.
Löf invented a solar cooker, marketed as the Umbroiler, but it was not a commercial success.
Award, in 1980. The award is given by the American Solar Energy Society
in recognition of contributions in the solar energy field.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
engineer and inventor who was best known for his contributions to solar energy research.
Early life
Löf was born in Aspen, ColoradoAspen, Colorado
The City of Aspen is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 5,804 in 2005...
, on 13 December 1913. His family later moved to Denver, where he graduated from East High School. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
in 1935, and a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in chemical engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
in 1940. He married Laura Davadell Scobey in 1940.
Career
Interested in solar energy from the beginning of his career, Löf designed an early flat-plate solar heating unit in 1943 and installed it on the roof of his house in Boulder, Colorado. It may be called the "first solar-heated home" in the United States.In 1957, he built a house in the Cherry Hills neighborhood of Denver which used a novel method to collect and store solar heat. It was designed by architect James M. Hunter, and Löf designed a flat-plate collection system which heated air and circulated the heat to be stored in rock beds in large cardboard tubes inside the house. Löf published several technical papers describing the house and its performance. It cost $40,000 excluding the cost of the heating equipment, which was financed by the American Window Glass Company. Löf lived in the house for more than 50 years until his death.
In 1974, he oversaw the construction of a research home that was the world's first to also be cooled by solar energy.
Löf taught chemical engineering at the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
and the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
before serving on the faculty of Colorado State University
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
in the civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
department from 1967 - 1987. He founded the university's Solar Energy Applications Laboratory in 1972. From 1973 - 1975, he was the president of the International Solar Energy Society
International Solar Energy Society
The International Solar Energy Society is a global organization for promoting the development and utilisation of renewable energy. ISES is a UN-accredited NGO and David S. Renné is the current president....
.
Löf invented a solar cooker, marketed as the Umbroiler, but it was not a commercial success.
Awards and honors
Löf was the first Colorado State University recipient of the Charles Greeley AbbotCharles Greeley Abbot
Charles Greeley Abbot was an American astrophysicist, astronomer and Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. He was born in Wilton, New Hampshire.-Life:...
Award, in 1980. The award is given by the American Solar Energy Society
American Solar Energy Society
The American Solar Energy Society is an association of solar professionals and advocates in the United States. Founded in 1954, ASES is dedicated to inspiring an era of energy innovation and speeding the transition toward a sustainable energy economy...
in recognition of contributions in the solar energy field.