Transpired Air Collector - Solarwall

Transpired Air Collectors

Overview

With a focus on building green and limiting carbon footprint in today’s construction/housing market, there are a lot of technologies/systems that are marketed to save you money by reducing energy consumption. Today’s article is about a system which isn’t actually new, but is proven to save money. The system is called transpired air collectors. It provides the best economics of any renewable energy systems and has no negative side effects. It’s main purpose is to provide pre-heated air into the building which reduces the load required by the existing heating system. At the moment, the system is designed for industrial and commercial applications - large buildings that require constant ventilation loads.

Benefits of the system includes:

• Reduces building operation cost

• Reduces reliance on fossil fuels, pollution, and greenhouse gas generations

• Maintenance free

• Eliminates temperature stratification - where this is a problem.

• High return in investment and payback value

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Source: http://solarwall.com/en/products/solarwall-air-heating/how-solarwall-works.php

Process

1. Outdoor air is drawn through the pin holes of the metallic sheet under negative pressure.

2. The dark metal sheet and interior framing heats and warms the air cavity.

3. As the air heats up, it rises and is ducted into the building through a connection to the HVAC system (Hot air naturally rises as it is relatively light)

4. System runs all year round - in the summer heated air is bypassed based conditions monitored by sensors.

5. Building heating loss is recaptured on the face where the system is installed.

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Projects

Because the system is not new, there are case studies on many of them. The company SolarWall has thousands of projects in over 35 countries. I’ve linked some case studies of their projects in the Greater Toronto Area. For more information, please visit the SolarWall website.

• City of Toronto Maintenance Garage - Case Study Link

• Moss Park Community Housing - Case Study Link

• Health Canada - Case Study Link

Electrochromic (Smart Glass) - View

Smart Glass

Overview

In this time and age, it seems like we are being constantly introduced to new and smart innovative technologies. We have grown accustomed to smartphones, smart TVs, and smart watches. One new smart technology I would like to introduce to you today is smart windows. Developed by Silicon Valley startup View Dynamic Glass, these "dynamic window" react accordingly to the outside environment and automatically tinting itself to reduce glare, decrease energy output, and improve occupant comfortability. Occupants also have the choice to manually control windows to their personal preference through View's mobile app or wall switches.

Benefits:

• Unobstructed Views
  With View's Smart windows, blinds and shades are no longer needed.

• Adaptable windows
  Window's tint adjust accordingly based on environment or personal preferences.

• Energy Efficiencies
  Helps reduce energy consumption by more than 20% and allows buildings to achieve LEED certification.

• Smart
  Interface with HVAC and lighting system for superior comfort and climate control.

• Maximize Daylight
  Uses coordinates to calculate sun's position, adjust window tints according thanks to light sensors and real-time weather feeds,

How It Works?

Above: Layers in View's Window

“The concept is very simple: It’s like wearing sunglasses and adjusting them to how bright it really is,”

-CEO of View Rao Mulpuri

View’s main technology is its electrochromatic material. The process to manufacture these windows take between six to eight hours and consists of three main steps. It begins with metal oxide gases being spread along a glass pane to create a ceramic coating that is about a micrometer thick. Then a low voltage wiring is added so the window can be connected to a building's central management system. The last step is to have an other piece of glass so that everything is sealed together. To change the tint of the glass, a small electric voltage is applied to the glass. The ions begin to move in between each layer of metal oxide causing it to react and therefore changing the window's tint.

alliance7 Rebrands with a Clear Vision!

Logo on White Background

Logo on Black Background

Overview

Today our company is rolling out major changes to the branding of alliance7. Our business has grown a lot over the years; our team has grown, our team culture has been improved upon, and our vision as a company is clearer than it has ever been before. To prepare ourselves for the next phase of growth, we wanted to revitalize the branding of the company so it spoke true and represents who we are today. 

New Logo

Like previously stated, as the company grows over the years, we wanted a symbol that represents who we are as a company. The logo consists of a symbol that has seven curved 7's joint together and meeting in the center. The 7's in this case represent different parties coming together and working collaboratively to reach the common goal. We had a focal point on 7 's during this re-branding process as it is one of the rare numbers that is great in both Eastern and Western cultures but more importantly, it as a meaning of partnering as well.

With regards to the colour selection, we wanted something that relates to the future state of construction. Moving ahead, with a focal point on the environment and constructing sustainable buildings, we wanted colors that are associated with the Earth and represent innovation and sustainability!

Our Purpose

Our purpose is to fulfill the vision together; we construct, design, assist and deliver anything imaginable.

Message from the President and Founder of alliance7:

I asked myself why I truly started this company and the main reason is I like working with a large team to achieve a goal. There are many differences in people, which I find interesting and its great how all these different people can work together and achieve a hugely successful project! Over the years as I made “mistakes”, either caring too much about my previous employer’s profit objective, or trying to always be right, or obsessing over something nobody else on the team cares about, as it as nothing to do with the common goal. I realized what makes our trade partners, consultant partners and most importantly our client happy and that is working together towards the goal. This helps improve schedule, quality, building performance and everyone’s profits and particularly the owner’s vision and profitability of their proforma/budget. This is why our purpose is the fulfill the vision together!

 -Simon DeGroot

Future Material: Aerogel Insulation

Spaceloft Aerogel Blanket Rolled Up

Spaceloft Aerogel Blanket Being INstalled on Church Roof in Northern Ireland

about

Aerogel is a relatively new material being used in the construction industry.  However, the material itself has been used for centuries. Invented in 1931 by American scientist Dr. Steven Kistler, aerogel is a lightweight solid made out of mostly compressed air. The material characteristics include being thin, breathable, fireproof, light-weight, but it's largely known for its ability to be a highly effective thermal insulator - twice the performance of rigid board.

Because it is fairly expensive, the material has yet to become mainstream and is only currently popular for high-end industrial applications. Clients such as NASA has been using it for years; the material is a main component for their space suites and more recently, their Mars Rover Spacecraft. Other companies have been using it to insulating water pipes and oil pipes.

As the price of the material continues to decline, we're expecting the material to one day become the main choice for building insulation. Currently, there two companies offering their aerogel product for commercial use. One company is called Aspen Aerogel and the other is called Thermoblok. According to company executives from Aspen Aerogel, the company has installed its Spaceloft Aerogel Blanket on in buildings across the United States and the United Kingdom.

Pricing

Aspen Aerogel offers a wide array of products. For more information regarding specification and pricing of each product, please click here. On the other hand, those who wish to seek more information regarding Thermoblok products and their pricing, please click here.

Guillotine - Vitrocsa

About

With increasing popularity in the last couple of years, vertical sliding windows with a mechanical component are beginning to take center stage for luxurious homes. These windows are a great way to instill an "openness" feel into your home as its frame is minimalistic and all you see is glass. In today's blog, we will be focusing our attention on an Australian company called Vitrocsa and their vertical sliding window, the Guillotine.

Since the 1990's, Vitrocsa is known in the industry as the inventor of the minimalist window. They utilize their patented Vitrocsa Invisible Wall system on all their products to provide clients with a simplified window. They recently released their Guillotine window to the public. These windows consists of two vertical sliding frames that are able to hold up to 500kg of glazing. The windows have many configurations, panels can be slid up, slid down into a cavity into the ground, or slide up and down thanks to their counter-weight system - they also be motorized if preferred. What makes these windows so special is that with the combination of the company's patented wall system and its ability to hold large panels of glass, the windows provides homes with a more immerse feeling than other similar products.

Regarding availability, Vitrocsa products are all manufactured in-house and then installed by a certified contractor to ensure the highest quality. Vitrocsa USA is the exclusive manufacture and distributor for Vitrocsa products in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbeans. For more information regarding availability in your region, visit Vitrocsa website.

 

Features

• Aesthetically Pleasing
  Thanks to the tracks being recessed into the building, these windows are pleasing to look at cause most of it is glass.
• Glazing Options
  Clients have to option of choosing single glazed, double glazed, and triple glazed.
• High Performance
  The windows have extreme air/water resistance with high thermal and insulation qualities.
• High Quality
  Fabricated using Swiss components in conjunction with Australian glass to provide top-class quality.

 

Configurations

Cabrio Balcony - Velux

A Danish window manufacturing company called Velux has developed what could be the next big thing. Known as the Velux Cabrio, these windows are installed onto rooftops and are a great way to bring some life into your attic-space by providing it with natural light, ventilation and openness.

How Do They Work?

The windows are quite simple to operate. When not in use, they are simply fixed windows. They look good and they provide your room with an abutment amount of natural light. To turn it into a balcony, all you do is unlock the levers and push the windows outwards. The top half of the window folds outwards to provide you with some head space and the bottom half folds downwards and provides you with a fenced off environment.

Features

• Thermo Technology
  The windows uses high-performance materials to provide excellent thermal performance.
• No Leak Promise
  Velux provides a 10-year installation warranty, 20 years on glass, and 10 years on product.
• Built-In Air Filter
  There is a built-in reusable air filter that keeps dust outside and promotes clean air in your home.

 

What Else Should I Know?

Availability

Velux products are available in both Canada and the United States at a local home improvement stores such as Home Depot and Lowe's. For more information regarding availability, please visit the Velux website

Pricing

The pricing for the window is based on your roofing condition. For those with a roof cavity and want to replacing their existing skylight, the price will range between $4,450 - $4,850 USD for each window. On the other hands, for those who want a new skylight, the price will range between $5,350 - $5950 due to the labor of cutting a cavity into your roof.

Customization

The windows offer a couple of customization assortments to fit personal preference. Beginning with the interior finish, the window can be either a pine finish which will illuminate a nature feel thanks to its wooden appearance or a simple but elegant white coat. Regarding exterior finishes, Velux offers three choices. One of the choices is a gray aluminum finish, this is their normal finish that comes with every window by default. The two other choices are called Copper and Titanium Zinc and these must be requested in order to get them manufacture. In all, there are six different combinations to choose from when choosing these balcondow - balcony windows.

Pine Wood - Interior

White Painted Finish - Interior

Titanium Zinc - Exterior

Copper Finish - Exterior

Aluminum Finish - Exterior