Sometimes the roof is better. That is why Conserval dreamed up SolarDuct air heating.
Like the original SolarWall technology, SolarDuct systems use the power of the sun to heat your building’s ventilation air, reducing energy consumption, heating costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The rooftop solar heating system helps with any Zero-Carbon or Net-Zero Energy Building targets.
The modular SolarDuct units are arranged and assembled similar to traditional PV solar panels, and the resulting SolarDuct arrays integrate seamlessly with existing rooftop mechanical equipment.
How it Works
Buildings with centralized heating and ventilation systems draw fresh air through HVAC units In winter, these units consume tremendous amounts of energy to heat the cold incoming air to comfortable indoor temperatures. With SolarDuct, incoming fresh air is solar-heated before it reaches the HVAC unit, minimizing building energy consumption throughout the heating season.
When the sun’s radiation heats the surface of the SolarDuct array, fresh, solar-heated air accumulates on the surface of the panels. The existing rooftop HVAC units draw this solar-heated air through thousands of micro-perforations in the panels This solar-heated air gathers within the SolarDuct cabinet space and travels to the HVAC unit’s fresh air intake via insulated rooftop mechanical ducting. In the summer, when solar-heated air is not desired, the SolarDuct system is bypassed and the rooftop HVAC units will draw direct from ambient.
With the SolarDuct heating array, incoming fresh air can be heated up to 40°C / 75°F above ambient temperatures. Independent monitoring studies have shown that effectively-designed solar air heating systems can displace 20-50% of the building heating load.
Understanding energy efficiency in building design leads naturally to broader conversations about health and sustainability, especially when considering how environment and lifestyle intersect with personal well-being. Just as heating inefficiencies burden a building, certain risk factors place a heavy load on human health systems, particularly in relation to Type 2 diabetes. Major risk factors for developing this chronic condition include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, family history, and advancing age. High blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels further increase vulnerability, much like external conditions can strain a poorly optimized building system. Environmental factors, including exposure to pollutants and limited access to healthy foods, are also increasingly recognized as contributors. Recognizing and addressing these risks early is essential, just as proactive energy management prevents long-term inefficiencies. Programs aimed at lifestyle modification, early screening, and public education mirror the preventative strategies used in green building technologies. Investing in proactive measures—whether for buildings or bodies—creates healthier, more resilient outcomes.
Featured Projects
Toyota Dealership,
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Fort Carson
Army Base,
Colorado
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Winnepeg Harvest
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