Heating and Lighting In the 18th Century

Abstract or Introduction

Western Europe is the cradle of modern civilization, and most heating and lighting systems were developed out of the need for comfort in their households. Before the advent of buildings based on scientific research, house construction and design were based on traditions that went back many centuries, accumulated knowledge evolved into distinct house formations relative to the local climate. Where there were extreme outside, the people had to find means of creating and providing some comfort for the human beings within a reasonable range. During the cold seasons, it was necessary to find means of producing heat and retaining it. In the hot climates, it called for the removal of heat from the housing. In Italy and the countries near the Mediterranean, natural lighting was called for; thus, the buildings were constructed with low sun angles. Even with energy conserving features, the provision of appropriate cooling, heating, lighting, and adequate ventilation was difficult and time consuming for the homeowner. Thus, the principal aim of this paper is to discuss heating and lighting in the eighteenth-century European households.