Combining aesthetics with functionally; a flat-panel SolarWall®
system was installed in a multi-residential building re-cladding project for the City of Windsor. The architectural SolarWall system spans over 10,000 ft2
on both the southeast and southwest walls. It greatly enhances the appearance of the building, creating a sleek and modern façade that will generate heat energy onsite and reduce operating costs while protecting the 30+ year old building.
“As leaders in social housing, we look to partners in our pursuit of
continuous improvements…I am proud of our efforts in maintaining and
improving our buildings and the SolarWall as part of our overarching plan
has proven to be the perfect complement, in upgrading our building
envelopes with a vision of improving energy management and our bottom
line on operating costs.”
~ Mr. Jim Steele, CEO
Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation
Windsor Essex Community Housing
Location: Windsor, Ontario
Background
Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation manages 4,700 units of affordable housing in over 732 buildings throughout the City of Windsor and County of Essex. The multi-residential building located at 2455 Rivard Dr in Windsor was scheduled for a building re-cladding in 2014 as the building envelope was suffering from localized deterioration, air infiltration, and moisture damage. This is very common in brick buildings that have gone through several decades of freeze/thaw cycles.
Solution
An exterior insulation and finishing system (EIFS System) was specified for the building façade and a SolarWall® flat panel system was specified for the southeast and southwest-facing stairwell walls. The SolarWall system is a solar air heating technology that also acts as a second skin for a building. It draws in outside air through tiny micro-perforations in the surface of the wall collector and heats that air before it is ducted into the building’s HVAC system. This reduces the conventional daytime heating load on the building.
Windsor_Essex_Community_Housing_Testimonial_SolarWallCaseStudy(PDF)
