Did you know that starting today, you can be more energy efficient and reduce your greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, thanks to technologies that use renewable energy? Not only can solar energy produce electricity with photovoltaic solar panels, it can also preheat the ventilation air of buildings.
Depending on your building's type and the activities taking place there, a minimum amount of fresh outdoor air must brought in. In the winter, this air must be heated so as not to affect occupants’ comfort. To meet this need while reducing energy consumption directly linked to building ventilation, thermal solar panels can be installed.
What are thermal solar panels?
These are structures installed on an outdoor wall that gets the most sun exposure, and certain models can even go on the building’s roof. The air between the building’s structure and wall is heated by the sun, and its temperature can increase from 5 to 30 °C based on weather conditions and on panel type and installation. This preheated air is then drawn in by the natural gas ventilation system.
Énergir offers a solar air preheating program with up to $200,000 in financial assistance available, and which can generate natural gas savings assessed at $2/m
3. Energy savings and project profitability are calculated using a RETScreen simulator developed by Natural Resources Canada.
In 2016, seven customers took part in our program for a saving of 205,000 m
3.
Consult our program’s Participant’s Guide
Please feel free to contact us to plan a visit to your facilities, at which time we can discuss future energy-efficiency projects.