SolarWall Uses More of The Sun's Energy

Solar Wall exhibits the highest known efficiency for an active solar heating system 
-Dr Chuck Kutscher, National Renewable Energy Lab(NREL)

Introduction To Conserval’s  SolarWall® Products:
Already adopted by thousands of customers around the world, the Solar Wall system developed by Conserval Engineering has set the global standard for solar air heating with its industry-leading efficiency and robust payback.

By using freely available solar energy to preheat incoming ventilation air, SolarWall® technology can significantly reduce on-site heating loads in a wide range of applications from warehouses and manufacturing plants to restaurants, hotels and hospitals.

In the northern United States and Canada on-site heating costs represent the largest energy-use category in commercial and municipal buildings. SolarWall® is arguably the most cost-effective way to achieve large scale heating cost reductions in these facilities. 

The SolarWall® 2-Stage System

The newest addition to the SolarWall line, the SolarWall 2-Stage system overcomes heating limits found in some single stage installations by heating the air twice to deliver higher temperatures.

A SolarWall 2-Stage system can outperform an equivalent single stage SolarWall heater by up to 50% in high-wind conditions and deliver temperature rises up to 50°C (90°F) over ambient. After the air passes through the first stage of standard SolarWall system, the solar preheated air rises to a narrow cavity between the glazing and the second SolarWall section. The preheated air then passes through a second set of SolarWall perforations, further increasing the temperature. After the second stage of heating, the air travels to the fab inlet or HVAC unit as it would with the single stage SolarWall system. By incorporating a two stage system, the air passes through the perforated panels twice which dramatically increases the heat gain.

Solar Wall is among “the top two percent of energy related inventions” -  Department of Energy

SolarWall® systems are typically installed on an exterior wall.  For flat roof installations, Conserval offers its Solar Duct product based on the same core technology as the SolarWall® system.  In both cases a thin layer of outdoor air that has been warmed by sun hitting the collector surface is drawn in through perforations in the most south facing exterior of the system.  The heated air is then directed into a building’s HVAC system, or is distributed to the interior directly via fans and a ducting system.

For applications needing both a solar heat collector and a building integrated PV system, Conserval offers its SolarDuct PV/T system combining photo voltaic panels mounted on top of the SolarDuct units.  Outside air is drawn from around and under the PV panel pulling heat from both the Solar Duct surface and the bottom of the PV panel. This works because PV panels generate heat while transferring energy from sunlight into electricity.  The removal of excess heat from the back of the PV panels not only reduces heating costs, it can enhance the electrical operating efficiency of the PV panel by up to 10%.  By collecting both heat and electricity at the same time, the Conserval PV/T cogeneration technology makes PV systems financially feasible for a wider variety of standard commercial, industrial and institutional applications.  

The SolarWall® technologies have generated up to 6 LEED points under Version 2.2, and are expected to qualify for up to 9 LEED points under Version 3.0.

Commercial and industrial clients in the US can receive a 30% Federal tax credit for their SolarWall® installations.  Moreover, there is a six year accelerated depreciation available for the SolarWall® system instead of the 40 year depreciation schedule for other standard building products.  Energy savings realized by SolarWall® systems can also be applied towards EPA Act 2005, section 179 D tax deductions. 

In many geographies, other rebates for solar water heat, solar space heat and photovoltaic systems are available to residential and commercial customers.  Included here for your reference are links for more information on local and state incentives for solar systems in Michigan and Indiana.

Please contact us for more in depth information on all of the available SolarWall® products, or go to solarwall.com.