Solarwall
Solarwall is a metal cladding system that preheats ventilation air, reducing energy costs and C02 emissions while improving air quality.
Solarwall was created by Conserval Engineering in Toronto, Ontario and is patented throughout the world.
The panel’s use is not restricted to sunny days; it works at all hours of the day, and all seasons of the year. On cloudy days and at night it conserves energy by holding heat in the air cavity that would normally be lost through the wall. In the summer, when heating is not required, a damper opens to bypass the solar collector while still providing a continual supply of fresh air. The wall also acts as a heat shade, preventing the summer’s sun from reaching the main wall and conducting the heat indoors.
Solar heating is particularly attractive when there is snow, since snow provides a high reflective albedo quality that enhances the performance of the system by 50 to 70%. This is why Solarwall works especially well in cold and northern climates.
The all-metal design has received numerous honours and awards from the U.S. Department of Energy, Natural Resources Canada, ASHRAE, the Toronto Construction Association, Popular Science Magazine, R&D Magazine and many more.
There are tax incentives available for companies and municipalities installing solar heating and ventilation systems. One program is the REDI grant, a rebate of 25% up to $80,000 for installations of solar air heating and ventilation systems, offered by the federal government.
Typical energy savings have been in the range of 2 to 4 therms per square foot of solar cladding per year, depending on fuel costs. Reducing the energy load has become an extremely important consideration for many municipalities and companies in recent years.
Global Highlight
Solarwall has been sold in 22 countries throughout the world. In North America, Europe and Asia it has been used on such buildings as bus maintenance garages, schools, high rise buildings, restaurants and commercial buildings. In Malaysia and Indonesia, it has been used for crop drying; in Quebec for manure drying.
The largest Solarwall project in eastern Canada is the Bombardier building in Quebec with 100,000 sq. ft. of Solarwall. In western Canada, the largest project is the City of Calgary’s bus maintenance garages with 30,000 sq. ft..
What's Happening in Western Canada?
- In B.C., the Peace River North, Coquitlam and Delta School Districts have installed Solarwalls on some of their school gymnasiums.
- Interior Plumbing and Heating installed Solarwall on their building in Kamloops.
- In Alberta, the City of Calgary, through an ESCO group, installed Solarwall on their bus maintenance garages. As a result of the success of this project, the City of Calgary has since installed Solarwall on its Manchester High Rise Building.
- The Art Smith AeroCentre (SAIT in Calgary) and DND’s new lecture facility in Edmonton are both using Solarwall to heat their classrooms. This is DND’s second installation in Alberta, after the Cold Lake Water Treatment Plant.
- The Grassy Lake School near Tabor, the Okotoks Operation Centre in Okotoks, Lees Sheet Metal in Grand Prairie and Edwards Garage in Rocky Mountain House are all using Solarwall to reduce their energy costs.
- Several schools in Saskatchewan now have Solarwall, including the RCMP training facility in Saskatoon.
- There are also Solarwall installations in the NWT—a Catholic School, a Geoscience Building, the Inuvik Correctional Institute and the Ft. Smith Recreational Facility.
What Does it Cost?
Solarwall costs approximately $14/sq. ft. This includes Solarwall cladding, matching fasteners and flashing, foam strips, horizontal bars and girts, engineered drawings, crating and freight.
Environmental Matters
Solarwall is made of steel or aluminum, and therefore uses some recycled material. Its use reduces CO2 emissions substantially, through the reduced energy use. A Solarwall will also help a building win points under the LEED Green Building program.
Technical Matters
Solarwall consists of metal cladding which is vented either directly into a room, or drawn into an existing ventilation system. It is a very simple, sustainable product which will fit in with any colour scheme. Solarwall comes in 20 different decorator colours, although black and dark brown rank best as far as solar absorptivity is concerned.
Can I Do It at Home?
Solarwall is available as a residential kit which is easy to install. A 1,000 sq. ft. house requires 2 panels which are 40" x 49" long for the south wall, a fan and controls. The air from the panels is then ducted into a forced air furnace or directly into a room. Payback would be about 4 years.
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Written by Donna Lewis for the BC Sustainable Energy Association, 2006.
