Solar air panels
The Solarwall heating and ventilation system resembles traditional metal cladding, but it also doubles as a heater. For a similar cost that would be required to construct a metal wall, the Solarwall system provides free heating and ventilation for the life of the building.
Solarwall is an unglazed (transpired) solar collector that uses perforated sheet metal to preheat ventilation air. The system can achieve inlet air preheating of 30-50∞F on a sunny day, reducing the heating load on commercial and industrial buildings. Savings are dependent upon geographic location and local energy costs, but range between $2 to $8/SF per year. Solarwall heaters also offer an optional displacement ventilation system which spreads solar-heated fresh air over a wide area within a building.
Contact: Conserval Engineering, Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
For more information, see Transmaterial: A Catalog of Materials That Redefine our Physical Environment
