Energy Cost Savings Through Sunlight Collection And Distribution

SUMMARY OF THE TECHNOLOGY

…        The system can provide annual electric lighting energy cost savings of $50k to $100k each year in a typical 100,000 sq.ft.  big-box retail building installation.

…        The system can be retrofit installed into existing structures at a lower cost than competing technologies. Each Solartech collector provides the equivalent of 5,400 watts of electric lighting, Illuminating 3,000 sq.ft. of floor space.

…        The system can provide simple user payback of as little as 2 years  for installation costs.

…      Daylight  has  demonstrated improvements in retail sales and productivity, as well as improved test scores in schools.

Utilizing light concentrating mirrors, and by following the sun's path each day for optimal alignment, the patented Solartech daylighting system collects, concentrates and re-distributes sunlight for interior building Illumination. A concentrated beam with heat removed is transmitted over distance with no appreciable losses. Reflectors then redirect successive portions of the beam, providing natural light illumination through out a building.

  The Solartech system addresses the substantial energy usage for electric lighting, and the growing desire for operating cost reductions through energy efficiency in retail commercial, industrial and other sectors.

Key Innovation

The concept of using sunlight as an illumination source (daylighting) originates in its simplest forms with windows and skylights. The key innovation of the Solartech system is the ability to efficiently collect and transmit a large amount of sunlight thru a small roof penetration, and distribute the light over 100 feet with an integrated distribution system that requires no expensive light pipes or fiber optics. The cost of the technology is less than $1 per watt installed- the first renewable technology with a 2 year simple payback, compelling enough for widespread adoption by the marketplace.

Milestones 

1/4 scale early proof of concept unit completed May 2002, Predictive computer modeling of commercial scale system thru NASA's SATOP program; Selected presenter for the 2004 National Renewable Energy Laboratories Clean Energy Venture Forum; finalist in the 2003 NSVC business plan competition.

Conclusion

There has been growing interest for daylighting in commercial, industrial, educational, government, and private sectors worldwide. With the additional impact of substantial electric billing increases in most of the state, there could not be a more opportune time and market receptivity for the technology.