Industrial Cicame Energie Inc.
Improving indoor air quality: SolarWall® system at Cicame Energie Inc. in Saint-Hubert, Quebec, Canada
Background
Results
Cicame Energie Inc. is a major supplier of connectors and accessories for power transmission lines. This industrial company was founded around 50 years ago, and operates in 17 countries and employs over 2000 people worldwide. In 2012, Cicame Energie examined ways to reduce their high heating costs at a new 100,000ft2 facility in Saint-Hubert. The SolarWall® system was chosen because it offered multiple benefits from a single energy system; including lower heating costs and a tremendous improvement in air quality.
The SolarWall® system is projected to displace over 35,000 m3 of natural gas a year, and offset over 74 tons of CO2 emissions annually. In addition to savings directly related to solar heating, the system will also solve a major source of energy loss in the building; air stratification. The combination of a 26ft high building with negative pressure caused an over 10°C difference between the floor and the ceiling (air stratification). The SolarWall system will significantly reduce their heating bills by lowering this stratification to roughly 1°C. Finally, this ventilation enhancement immediately and significantly improved the air quality in the factory, making the working environment healthier and more comfortable for employees. The Cicame Energie SolarWall® system qualified for a capital incentive from GazMetro, the local natural gas utility.
Solution The 4,850 ft2 (450 m2) black SolarWall® system was installed on the south-west wall and sized to preheat 30,000 CFM of air. The system will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week delivering a minimum of 5% of the fresh air requirements. On a sunny day the system will be delivering up to 100% of the daytime fresh air requirements. Inside the building a network of SolarWall® fabric ducts distribute the solar heated air throughout the facility.
U.S.A. Conserval Systems Inc. 4242 Ridge Lea Rd, Suite 28, Buffalo NY 14226 P: 716-835-4903 F: 716-835-4904 E: info@solarwall.com www.solarwall.com
Canada Conserval Engineering Inc. 200 Wildcat Road, Toronto, ON M3J 2N5 P: 416-661-7057 F: 416-661-7146 E: info@solarwall.com www.solarwall.com
Left, The view from inside the Cicame Energie building: Solar Wall® fabric ducting distributes the solar heated air, improving indoor air quality and remedying stratified ceiling heat
Europe SolarWall Europe Sarl. 66 Avenue des Champs Elysees 75008 Paris, France E: info@solarwall.eu www.solarwall.eu
SolarWall® systems are patent protected. SolarWall® is a registered trademark of Conserval Engineering, Inc.