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Energy and Buildings in the 20th Century 

 

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Milestone Buildings of the 20th Century

1950-1959

1956
Bridgers-Paxton Office Building
Albuquerque, NM

Architect: Wright & Stanley, Bridgers & Paxton

 1956 Bridgers-Paxton Office Building, Albuquerque, NM

This structure was the first solar office building in the world. It was heated by a solar collector, insulated water tanks serving as thermal storage systems, and five heat pumps.

Technologies, Innovations, and Quality of Life
1951   Color television introduced in U.S.
1952   Drywall invented (paper faced gypsum plaster sheets)
1953   Photovoltaics-solar conversion directly into electricity - invented by Bell Labs
1953   The gene chemical DNA is discovered
1958   First U.S. satellite to orbit the Earth


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