NOVELTY - An evacuated solar thermal electric generator comprises conductive heat receiving element having a heat receiving surface and a heat sink portion disposed away from the heat receiving surface; a heat resistant enclosure that includes a top encasing that is at least partially transparent, and a bottom encasing joined to the top encasing to create an airtight seal; and a thermoelectric generating material thermally coupled to the heat receiving element.    USE - The evacuated solar thermal electric generator is useful for generating electricity (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The solar thermal conductive device is advantageous because there is no specific shape or size requirement for any single component of the conductive device. As a result, solar thermal conductive device units may accommodate any range of conditions. For example, the solar thermal conductive device units may be designed small enough so that a single installer could install an entire array of conductive devices with no specialized tools or lifting equipment. Alternatively, the conductive devices may be modified in size, shape, color and/or aperture to serve as a functional and esthetically pleasing building facade (including artful designs or signage) composed of such devices.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An evacuated solar thermal electric generator comprises conductive heat receiving element having a heat receiving surface and a heat sink portion disposed away from the heat receiving surface; a heat resistant enclosure that includes a top encasing that is at least partially transparent, and a bottom encasing joined to the top encasing to create an airtight seal, the bottom encasing having a surface for receiving at least part of the heat receiving element so that at least part of the heat sink portion is in direct contact with the bottom encasing; where a vacuum is provided in a space within the enclosure between at least a part of the heat receiving surface and the top encasing, and solar energy is transmitted to the heat receiving surface through the transparent top encasing and is transferred through the heat receiving element to the heat sink portion; and a thermoelectric generating material thermally coupled to the heat receiving element. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are:    (1) a method for making evacuated solar thermal electric generator, comprising providing a conductive heat receiving element having a heat receiving surface and a heat sink portion disposed away from the heat receiving surface; inserting at least part of the heat receiving element into a surface in a bottom encasing so that at least part of the heat sink portion is in direct contact with the bottom encasing; thermally coupling a thermoelectric generating material to the heat receiving element; attaching an electrical current carrying element to the thermoelectric generating material; joining the bottom encasing to a top encasing that is at least partially transparent to define a heat resistant enclosure and create an airtight seal; and providing a vacuum in a space within the enclosure between at least a part of the heat receiving surface and the top encasing; where the device is adapted to transmit solar energy to the heat receiving surface through the transparent top encasing and transfer the energy through the heat receiving element to the heat sink portion; and    (2) a method of generating electricity comprising installing the solar thermal electric generator in a sun-facing facade of a structure.