SolarWall Part of Largest Air Heated Building Installation
Released on Jun 18 2008
SolarWall News >> Media

Source: North American Clean Energy (May-June 2008)
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The largest collection of solar air heated buildings in the world, located at Fort Drum, NY, now employs Canadian-made SolarWall technology. Fifty, Conserval SolarWall systems (totalling over 10,000 square metres) have been installed on 27 military buildings and will collectively generate over 4MW of peak thermal energy. By using solar energy, Fort Drum will displace over 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year, and is projected to realize fuel savings of 44 billion BTU/h (46,000 GJ) per year.

The SolarWall air heating system reduces onsite energy costs by heating the ventilation air that is required in commercial and industrial buildings, using a patented transpired solar collector. SolarWall is a metal wall system that uses perforated collector panels installed several inches from a wall, creating an air cavity. The metal cladding is heated by solar radiation, and ventilation fans located at the top of the wall create negative pressure in the air cavity, drawing in the solar heated air through the panel perforations. A connection to an HVAC intake allows air to be preheated before entering the air handler, reducing the load on a conventional heater. This heated fresh air is then distributed into the building through the existing HVAC system or with separate air makeup fans and perforated ducting.

Eight other U.S. military bases also now use SolarWall technology, as well as two Canadian bases in Alberta. In Ontario, the technology is eligible for up to 50 percent funding by combining rebates from the federal ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program and the new matching Ontario Solar Thermal Heating Incentive (OSTHI).

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Last changed:Aug 08 2008