Natural Resources Canada
97/98
December 2, 1997
CANADIAN COMPANY LICENSES SOLAR TECHNOLOGY IN JAPAN
TOKYO — The world's most efficient solar heating technology,
which was developed in Canada, has entered the Japanese marketplace. Conserval
Engineering of Downsview, Ontario, has licensed Tokyo's Sanwa Shutter
Corporation to manufacture the Solarwall™ it created.
The agreement, which was made through Logos Systems Co. Ltd. of Tokyo,
represents a major development for Conserval in the marketing of its
award-winning technology. The Solarwall has been under development since the
early 1980s with support from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).
"Companies like Conserval blend business acumen with real technology
solutions to climate change," said Ralph Goodale, Minister of Natural
Resources. "As a long-time R&D partner with this company, my
department is proud to see Conserval make the successful leap into the Japanese
marketplace."
Sanwa Shutter Corporation, a leading Japanese supplier of window and door
products, has close to 4,000 employees. Sales last year exceeded $2 billion
Cdn. The company first became aware of the Solarwall's benefits when officials
visited the Solarwall installation at NRCan's energy efficiency and alternative
energy research facility, the CANMET Energy Technology Centre in Bell's Corners,
Ontario.
The visit led to a licensing agreement with Conserval which will introduce
the Solarwall technology into Sanwa's product line. The company is assigning 16
full-time staff to the project. Up to three demonstration systems will be
installed in the near future.
"Conserval is extremely pleased to welcome Sanwa Shutter to the
Solarwall team," said Conserval President John Hollick. "I am
confident that all of Japan will eventually reap the rewards of reduced
greenhouse gases, energy savings, and improved air quality and comfort levels in
their factories and buildings."
Solarwalls are installed on the exterior of buildings to preheat their
ventilation air. In the winter, cold incoming air is heated with solar energy
before it is distributed into the building, providing a source of fresh, warm
air to occupants. Conserval's design is over 70 per cent efficient, resulting
in financial paybacks within as little as two to four years. The technology can
be easily retrofitted to existing buildings.
NRCan has provided ongoing support to Conserval, which has six employees, to
improve the performance and reduce the cost of Solarwall technology. The
company is now actively marketing the Solarwalls internationally. In recent
years, companies such as Bombardier, General Motors and Ford Motor Company have
retrofitted their complexes with Solarwalls.
NRCan is currently working with Conserval on several fronts: to develop a
Solarwall for residential applications; to develop a real-time outdoor
monitoring device that demonstrates Solarwall's energy savings; and, through
Enermodal Engineering Ltd. of Toronto, to develop software that will enable
building designers to more easily incorporate Solarwalls into new building
designs.
For more information:
John Embury
Press Secretary
Natural
Resources Canada
(613) 996-2007
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