SolarWall® Information for Architects & Engineers
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 maximum LEED® point generation. SolarWall systems have been used for dramatic effect - in a variety of different colors - on hundreds 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 Toronto Airport Fire & Emergency Training Facility, the new LEED® Platinum CANMET Laboratory at McMaster University and the Beijing Olympic Village.
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, NightSolar®, and the SolarWall 2-Stage system for higher temperature rises.
The SolarWall system at the Beijing Olympic Village is accessorized with LED lighting for night time appeal.
The SolarWall technologies are unique in that they are building-integrated, require no ongoing maintenance, and are available in a wide variety of design colors, which makes this solar technology ideally suited for most commercial and institutional buildings.
Either with or without an existing HVAC system – and in either wall or roof mount applications – the SolarWall technology is extremely adaptable and represents one of the few economically viable retrofit options for reducing sizable amounts of energy. A SolarWall system can also act as a rain screen and can be easily integrated with a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) system.
SolarWall® & LEED®
Conserval’s engineers work on a regular basis with architects and consulting engineers who are designing LEED® buildings. Under the new LEED 3.0 rating system, SolarWall systems can generate up to 9+ LEED points, making it one of the most meaningful and cost-effective technologies to incorporate into a new building.
Here’s how SolarWall systems generate LEED Points:
Energy & Atmosphere
- In EAc2; On-Site Renewable Energy up to 7 points are available
[+] Click to view chart - Version 3: EAC2 - On-Site Renewable Energy (1-7 points)
If 13% of the building’s energy comes from on-site renewable energy, then 7 LEED points can be claimed. Independent monitoring and third-party modeling tools show that over the past 20 years of usage for the technology, SolarWall systems displace on average between 20-50% of a building’s heating load, and since the heating load can represent up to 50% of a building total energy usage, SolarWall systems can be sized to generate the maximum number of points in this category.
- In EAc1; Optimize Energy Performance up to 19 points are available.
[+] Click to view chart - Version 3: EAC1 - Optimize Energy Performance (1-19 points)
SolarWall systems can help to generate an additional 1-3 points in this category because of the improved energy efficiency of the building resulting from the savings detailed above from the heating load.
Indoor Environmental Quality
- in Ventilation Effectiveness; another1 point is available
This LEED point is awarded when a building brings in 30% more ventilation air then is suggested by ASHRAE. Since the SolarWall technology heats ventilation air, the system can easily be sized to deliver and heat this increased volume of air. This results in improved indoor air quality without a corresponding increase in heating costs.
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.
The SolarWall technology generated up to 6 direct LEED® points for past clients under Version 2.2, with typically 3 points from EAc2, 2 points from EAc1, and 1 point from Ventilation Effectiveness.
[+] Click to view chart - Version 2.2: EAC2 - On-Site Renewable Energy (1-3 points)
[+] Click to view chart - Version 2.2: EAC1 - Optimize Energy Performance (1-10 points)
 CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory at McMaster Innovation Park -LEED Platinum |
 Concordia University - LEED Registered |
 Dr David Suzuki School - LEED Platinum |
 Greater Toronto Airport Authority - LEED Silver |
 Hamilton Fire Hall - LEED Gold |
 Hibbing Annex Courthouse - LEED Certified |
 KFC Taco Bell - LEED Gold |
 NREL Research Support Facility - LEED Platinum |
 Northern Arizona University - LEED Silver |
 Nova Scotia Community College - LEED Certified |
 Steelcare - LEED Gold |
 The Currents Residences - LEED Certified |
Take a SolarWall Course
To take the AIA-SD (American Institute of Architects - Sustainable Design) / USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) continuing education course on SolarWall, please visit the AEC Daily site to learn about Solar Air Heating Systems: Renewable Energy Solutions.
Download Technical SolarWall Specifications:
| 10-Part CSI Formatted Spec | |
 SolarWall SW150/SW150R Profile (North America) | type: pdf | size: 801 kB |
| SolarWall SW400/SW450 Profile (Europe) | type: pdf | size: 807 kB |
| 3-Part CSI Formatted Spec | |
 SolarWall SW150/SW150R Profile (Word Doc Format) | type: doc | size: 152 kB |
| SolarWall SW150/SW150R Profile (PDF Format) | type: pdf | size: 75 kB |
| Color Chart | |
| SolarWall SW150/SW150R Profile Color Chart (North America) | type: pdf | size: 590 kB |
| SolarWall SW400/SW450 Profile Color Chart (Europe) | type: pdf | size: 903 kB |
| Other | |
| SolarWall Fans (Europe) | type: pdf | size: 1 MB |
| SolarWall and LEED® (Leaflet) | type: pdf | size: 1 MB |
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