SolarWall Information for Architects & Engineers
From the World of Business to the World of Culture;
SolarWall® systems have been used on architectural projects around the world with a consistent track record of successful results and eye-catching designs. The SolarWall technology is increasingly favored by architects who want to use renewable energy because of the flexibility of design, ease of integration, and LEED® point generation. SolarWall systems have been used for dramatic effect - in a variety of different colors - on dozens of buildings. They can be seamlessly integrated, or can be curved or angled to achieve any desired appearance. Some of the more notable projects include the architecturally-magnificent Swedish Museum of Modern Art, the award winning LEED Silver Certified Toronto Airport Fire & Emergency Training Facility and the Beijing Olympic Village.
The patented SolarWall systems are comprised of numerous components and a well defined design methodology which maximizes energy delivery. Years of engineering research in the areas of HVAC and air flow science combined with civil engineering practices regarding building construction have defined the science of solar air heating in 30+ countries.
The traditional SolarWall system is all-metal and is sometimes referred to as a "transpired solar collector". New technological variations include the SolarWall hybrid PV/Thermal system, NightSolarTM, and the SolarWall Two Stage system for higher temperature rises.
The SolarWall system at the Beijing Olympic Village is accessorized with LED lighting for night time appeal.
All the SolarWall technologies are unique in their application for commercial and industrial buildings, and their very short return-on-investment (ROI) timeframe.
SolarWall solutions are cost effective, made from standard building materials (mainly aluminum or steel), easy to include and virtually maintenance free, making it easier to persuade a hesitant client to incorporate renewable energy sources in their building’s design (new or retrofit). (A SolarWall system also acts as a rainscreen)
Either with or without an existing HVAC system – and in either wall or roof mount applications - the technology is extremely adaptable and represents one of the few economically viable retrofit options for reducing sizable amounts of energy. As well, it can be easily integrated with a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) system.
SolarWall® & LEED®
Conserval’s engineers work on a regular basis with architects who are designing LEED® buildings. The SolarWall® technologies have been incorporated into many LEED® certified projects, generating up to 6 points for past clients. Below is a sample of some recent LEED® projects that include a SolarWall® air heating or PV/Thermal system.
 Concordia University - LEED Registered |
 Greater Toronto Airport Authority - LEED Silver |
 Hamilton Fire Hall - LEED Gold |
 Hibbing Annex Courthouse - LEED Certified |
 KFC Taco Bell - LEED Gold |
 Northern Arizona University - LEED Silver |
 Nova Scotia Community College - LEED Certified |
 Steelcare - LEED Silver |
Under Version 2.2, SolarWall systems generated up to 6 direct LEED points. This is a significant number for one technology and the use of SolarWall helped many projects to achieve the next level of certification. Under the new LEED 3.0, the solar heating and PV/thermal systems are expected to qualify for up to 10 points because of the increased emphasis on renewable energy. The SolarWall technologies are LEED qualifying in the following categories:
Energy & Atmosphere (Version 3.0)
- Optimize Energy Performance EAC1 (1-19 points)
- Renewable Energy EAC2 (1-7 points)
This means that out of 26 available points in the energy category, SolarWall can reasonably generate up to 10 points, which is a large proportion coming from one technology.
[+] Click to view chart - Version 2.2: EAC1 - Optimize Energy Performance (1-10 points)
[+] Click to view chart - Version 2.2: EAC2 - On-Site Renewable Energy (1-3 points)
[+] Click to view chart - Version 3: EAC1 - Optimize Energy Performance (1-19 points)
[+] Click to view chart - Version 3: EAC2 - On-Site Renewable Energy (1-7 points)
Materials & Resources
- Recycled Content MR Credit 4.1 (1-2 points)
[+] Click to view chart - MR Credit 4.1 - Recycled Content
The SolarWall technology contributes to achieving this credit, but the contribution is small relative to the entire building construction
Indoor Environmental Quality
- Ventilation Effectiveness (1 point)
This LEED point is awarded when a building brings in 30% more ventilation air then is suggested by AHRAE. With a SolarWall system this LEED point can be easily obtained, since a SolarWall system pre-heats the ventilation air, it can be sized to deliver the increased ventilation air for improved indoor environment quality (qualifying for the Ventilation Effectiveness LEED point) without the typical increased heating costs.
Take a SolarWall Course
To take the AIA-SD (American Institute of Architects - Sustainable Design) continuing education course on SolarWall, please visit the Ron Blank GreenCE.com site to learn about Solar Heating Metal Wall Systems.
Download CSI Formatted SolarWall Specifications:
| 10-Part MANU-SPEC® | |
 SolarWall SW150/SW250 Profile |
type: pdf | size: 622 kB |
| 3-Part MANU-SPEC® | |
 SolarWall SW150/SW250 Profile (Word Doc Format) |
type: doc | size: 69 kB |
| SolarWall SW150/SW250 Profile (PDF Format) |
type: pdf | size: 32 kB |
| Color Chart | |
| SolarWall SW150/SW250 Profile Color Chart |
type: pdf | size: 112 kB |
What Architects and Engineers have to say about SolarWall
To understand why the SolarWall technology is well regarded in the architectural and engineering community, various architects and engineers elaborate below on their experiences with this particular technology, and how they regard it from the perspective of energy savings, the LEED process, indoor air quality and overall ease of integration into the design of the building.
"[I]t’s like free gas for your car...We were using metal fascia anyway, and there was a conventional ventilation system. Just by adding the SolarWall panels, it became this solar thing that lets them save energy and money. Like I said, it’s like backing up to a free gas pump."
-Dave Stafford, architect at Thurston Design; Rapid City Community Centers, SD
"We specified SolarWall for the Fire and Emergency Services Training Institute after speaking with the representatives of the firm. They attended early meetings with the design team, assisted in the preparation of documents required for LEED certification and were at all times enthusiastic and supportive of the team and the project. I know that for the sustainable construction industry to really achieve their goals, we need innovative manufacturers, suppliers and installers like the SolarWall team."
-Carol Kleinfeldt, B.Arch., MOAA, MAAA, FRAIC, LEED A.P. Partner, KMA Inc.; Award winning & LEED Silver Certified Fire & Emergency Services Training Institute at Toronto International Airport
"Our building has blond brick fascia, so the dark brown SolarWall makes a nice contrast. The design of the SolarWall was stylized to have a bit of pizzazz to it with the angle on the side. The building was very institutional looking and we used the SolarWall to give it a bit of architectural interest."
-Tony Mancuso, St. Louis County Property Management, Hibbing Annex Courthouse, MN
"Improving air quality and comfort without increasing space heating costs was a real challenge, especially in our climate, but the SolarWall system did just that. And besides routine care such as oiling the fans, the system is practically maintenance free…..cold spots and drafts were eliminated and the fresh air situation greatly improved. Workers are happy with good air quality and even air temperatures"
-Alois First, Plant Engineer; BOEING
"Nothing special was needed with SolarWall. We just got the energy and cost savings. The SolarWall system results in 80,000 - 100,000 kwh savings per year. And this project is repeatable – you could do the same project with respect to standard budget for any school."
-Laurier Nichols, engineer at Dessau Soprin; Ecole du Tournant, Quebec - ASHRAE award winning school that uses 80% less energy than a typical school