Dawn Solar Systems Inc., a manufacturer of solar thermal systems and developer of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) thermal systems for residential, commercial, institutional and industrial structures, has said that Englert Inc. is Dawn Solar's latest stocking authorized distributor. Englert is a producer of rainware and metal roofing products and accessories.
Dawn Solar thermal collectors are installed under roofing or wall cladding, and the systems operate by collecting solar energy that is created from the sun shining on a building envelope. A glycol-protected, open or closed loop recirculating system−which can be installed on steel building framing, on top of a deck or on sheathing−transfers the solar energy to conventional heat exchangers and distribution systems that then distribute the solar energy as heat for hot water, space heating and process heating. By increasing the R-value in both roofs and walls, the building integrated thermal systems have an added bonus of collecting solar energy while simultaneously reducing cooling and heating loads in buildings. Additionally, in colder climates−or just at night−the thermal technology can be reversed to provide building and process cooling or even ice and snow melting, for instance sending warm liquid back to a snow-covered roof to melt snow.
As part of the package, the Dawn Solar thermal system is mounted under Englert standing-seam metal roofing or wall panels. Englert's SunNet PV thin film laminates can be added and installed on the standing-seam panels, and because the PV laminates are "cooled" by the Dawn Solar thermal system, the integrated PV-thermal system produces more energy. The roofing material will radiate heat after it reaches a certain temperature, but the thermal system is self-regulating, preventing overheating and component damage when the system is inactive for extended periods of time. *