October 2010 Green Product Solutions

Sun Seeking

Solar wall reduces energy consumption for Alaska district

Whirlwind Solar. In conjunction with Fairbanks North Star Borough School District (FNSBSD), the first solar laminate wall of building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solar panels has been installed in the Fairbanks, Alaska, area. The photovoltaic laminates are installed on the south-facing wall of the district’s facility on Minnie Street. The wall also incorporates innovative thermal insulation techniques, which will reduce energy consumption.

The solar array, which is laminated to the Whirlwind Weather Snap metal system, is sized at 5.44 kW. The system underscores the district’s commitment to green technologies education and reduces electricity usage.

"The Fairbanks North Star Borough has a long history of supporting alternative energy sources, as well as technologies which will make for a cleaner and more energy efficient school district for our students and faculty," says Larry Morris, facility manager.

The solar laminate wall system is composed of about 80 photovoltaic laminates, each 16 inches wide and 9 feet, 4 inches long, and about ¼-inch thick. Each panel fits between the ridges of the building’s standing-seam metal system and faces south for maximum efficiency. The solar laminate technology is better at capturing off-angle light than traditional crystalline solar panels. Therefore, the photovoltaic laminate array does not need to be at the perfect tilt angle (slope) or azimuth angle (perfectly oriented south) to create a great deal of electricity.

Select the October 2010 issue RSN number 168 on AS&U's Product Information site for more information.

Hand dryer

Bradley Corp. The Aerix Adjustable Speed Warm Air Hand Dryer has been approved and listed in the current GreenSpec 7 Directory published by BuildingGreen. The directory lists more than 2,100 products that have been reviewed and selected by editors after meeting a variety of performance and environmental criteria, such as water and energy conservation, air quality and use of recycled materials. The key features cited for making this product green include its ability to conserve energy and manage loads, as well as reduce pollution and waste from operations.

Select the October 2010 issue RSN number 165 on AS&U's Product Information site for more information.

Floor-cleaning machines

Advance. The Advenger rider-scrubber with EcoFlex System and the ProTerra rider-sweeper meet requirements for sustainable cleaning equipment specified by the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance Rating System (LEED-EBOM). Both offer ergonomic design features that minimize physical stress on the user and maximize operator safety, operate at low sounds levels (less than 70 dBA) and minimize vibration.

Select the October 2010 issue RSN number 166 on AS&U's Product Information site for more information.

Audio Amplifiers

OWI, Inc. The AMP-1SGRN Speaker Amplifier with Priority Audio Override recently earned UL Environment’s Energy Efficiency Certification (EEC) Mark for ENERGY STAR compliance. The system works on flexible power—either 25 watts or 50 watts—and applies the higher wattage only when needed. The digital amplifier operates with 87 percent efficiency, which gives it the ENERGY STAR rating. The system goes into "sleep" mode every 15 minutes and has a self-test feature that tests itself every hour, or when a button is pressed.

Select the October 2010 issue RSN number 167on AS&U's Product Information site for more information.