SolTech Energy, a Swedish company selling solutions for clean solar power, was recently awarded “Hottest New Material 2010” for their unique home heating system contained within roofing tiles made out of ordinary transparent glass. The attractive house-warming tiles (somewhat ironically) give roofs a beautiful, icy appearance quite unlike anything else we’ve ever seen before.
In 2009, the SolTech Energy System was selected by a jury and nominated among nine as the year’s “Hottest New Material.” Based on votes by the people, the company’s glass tiles were awarded with a gold medal from the North Building Fair, Nordbygg. “The winning entry combines an attractive design with essential functions for clean and sustainable energy. It is an innovative product that is well in time,“ said the chairman of the jury, PhD. Bengt Toolanen.
So what makes the system so special and award worthy? For starters, the tiles are made from ordinary glass and have about the same weight as those made of clay. Secondly, the system doesn’t, like competitors’ versions, heat up water or vacuum pipes, but clean air. The tiles are installed on top of a black nylon canvas, under which air slots are mounted. The black colour absorbs heat from the sun and the air starts to circulate. The hot air is then used to heat up water, which is connected to the house’s heating system via an accumulator. The beauty of the system is that it cuts energy costs throughout the year, during dark winter days as well as night time, due to its capacity to store heat in the isolating layers of air under the canvas.
In an initial research phase the company collaborated with the Swedish glass mill Orrefors to develop the tiles. Today they are industrially produced in Portugal, but built on the same Swedish design.
The SolTech Energy System generates about 350 kWh heat per square meter (10 square ft), depending on climate, angle of the roof and cardinal direction. For additional technical data, visit SolTech Energy’s webpage.
where can i find more information on this product
may i know moer this product?
how about cooling the house? . ..
how about cooling the house?
продаётся ли уже эта система
“the system doesn’t heat up water, but clean air.
The hot air is then used to heat up water”
Gee, what a radical new design!
I would like to know more about your solar glass tile roofing material.
I’m building a three bedroom house in Jamaica.Would your system work there?
Can’t we have our hot water and hot air, too? Every roof has to have a sealant membrane. If we double that membrane and close it at the bottom edge, the heat will convert any moisture in the membrane sandwich to steam. The amount of water and heat trapped could be substantial due to the large area of the roof. This means that the roof can both heat and distill water from the membrane itself. By callibrating the amount of water dripping down into the membrane, the roof itself could cool the ceiling on extra hot days. The membrane doesn’t need a transparent glass tile–it could work with anything.
What is the ideal climate for this product? Would there be a risk of the tiles shattering if they experienced to great of a thermal shift?
that’s really slick. i do wonder what the roi is on it though, with the cost of glass alone being much higher than clay.
Very cool idea for homes in northern climates (like Sweden) but probably won’t work in hot southern areas – like Phoenix. Still, if your primary energy usage is heating, then I can see how this woulf be a great option.
How will this fare against hail? And is it a low maintenance cost if/when repairs need to be made?
What happens during hot summers, like the one this year? Or dark dark winters with little sunlight. How much heat can it actually store or not store? Does the heat on the roof affect the house separately from the heat from the heaters in the house? Pretty but no crystal clear yet.
Yes, they do matter – a square meter is ~10.76 (nearly 11) square feet.
350 kWh heat per square meter (3 square ft),
actually a square meter is almost 10 square feet. These things matter, people.