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Solar Lab’s patent-pending Skyheater converts solar energy directly to heat at 85% peak efficiency. Heated air is then blown downward from the building roof into the occupied air layer to offset natural gas usage during winter. It’s simple, elegant, and cost-effective.
If you’ve been paying attention to the debate on renewable energy, the problem is not just efficiency–it’s about up-front cost. At Solar Labs we set out to reduce system complexity, drop the storage requirement, and make it hyper-efficient. Only then do you have a renewable energy system that can actually pay for itself.
How does this work? Within the roof-mounted Skyheater panel, upper-strata interior air is forced at high velocity across a solar-heated membrane and directed into a building with none of the conversion losses that plague other solar technologies. With the elimination of batteries, voltage inverters, plumbing and ductwork, up-front costs are minimized, solar heat is delivered, and gas bills are lowered. Set-and-forget operation is ensured with two remote-sensor thermostats.
The Skyheater underwent full-scale comprehensive testing in Knoxville atop the World Clutch Distributors building in late winter of 2008. The target market for the panels are low-rise commercial buildings used for big-box retail, aviation, warehousing and agriculture.
Now, about that unbelievable efficiency...

Click for a one-minute Skyheater orientation in Quicktime or Windows media format.

Solar Labs news:

June 4, 2008
Solar Labs one of seven solar ventures selected.
Solar Labs was selected for presentation at the 2008 Clean Tech/Nano-Tech/Tech Connect combined events in Boston–the largest summit of its kind in North America linking new technologies with venture capital.

May 31, 2008.
Measured results for Skyheater confirmed.
A peak efficiency in excess of 85% was confirmed during steady-state periods of peak insolation. Average steady-state efficiency, including periods of inclement weather, measured at 58% at an average 45º F over a five-week period.

February 15, 2008.
Skyheater demonstration project installed at World Clutch building.
Solar Labs has completed a demonstration solar-air heating system on the World Clutch Distributors building in Knoxville. Skyheater system performance will be monitored over the test period with ultra-accurate sensors to verify BTU performance in real-world conditions.
World Clutch Distributors, a 5000 square-foot facility, is owned by brothers Roy and Smitty Norwood. “I’ve always been interested in solar,” says Smitty, “It’s something I’m excited about. It’s a great opportunity, and we look forward to the Solar Lab project on our building. It’s a win-win situation.”
Three interns from the University Of Tennessee are participants in the demonstration project: Ryan Edgerton (Environmental Science), Colton Griffin (Industrial Engineering), and Hannah Johnson (Environmental Studies). Click for a demonstration slideshow:

January 31, 2008.
Solar Labs participates In Focus The Nation event at the University of Tennessee.
Focus The Nation is a nationwide event focused on identifying solutions to global climate change with a series of local panels, discussions, and lectures on climate change issues. Additionally, there will be a "green" organization fair during the day.
Solar Labs will be showing the Skyheater concept at the at the University Of Tennessee, Knoxville Student Center, and will be taking applications for renewable energy internships.

January 21, 2008.
Skyheater Demonstration Project at World Clutch building.
Solar Labs announces preparations for a demonstration solar-air heating system on the World Clutch Distributors building in Knoxville, Tennessee. Skyheater system performance will be monitored over the test period with ultra-accurate platinum sensors to verify BTU performance in real-world conditions.
World Clutch Distributors, a 5000 square-foot facility, is owned by brothers Roy and Smitty Norwood. “I’ve always been interested in solar,” says Smitty, “It’s something I’m excited about. It’s a great opportunity, and we look forward to the Solar Lab project on our building. It’s a win-win situation.”

October 26, 2007.
Solar Labs at Southeast Solar Summit at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Solar Labs participated in the first Southeast Solar Summit, co-hosted by the Southern Alliance For Clean Energy and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The U.S. Department Of Energy, Department Of Commerce, Tennessee Valley Authority and several other private and public organizations were in attendance as new technologies and energy policy were discussed. Solar Labs owner/designer Joel Fairstein gave a workshop entitled Solar Air Heating For Commercial Buildings.

August 24, 2007.
Solar Labs exhibits at the Southern Energy & Environmental Expo.
Solar Labs joined over 50 other exhibitors in the popular annual Southern Energy & Environmental Expo near Asheville, North Carolina. A working scale prototype of the Skyheater was introduced to Expo attendees. Outside the venue, a Solar Labs Com 7 Window Heater was on display and weathered a severe thunderstorm with no damage or leakage. The 8’-wide unit was later installed in a residence in Hardin Valley, Tennessee.

Skyheater concept?

In 2000, Solar Labs founder and recording engineer Joel Fairstein set out to re-invent solar-heating technology. Existing designs had shortcomings that reduced panel efficiency, durability and placement. After several prototype and testing cycles, it became evident the chief problem was not in collecting solar heat, as might be supposed, but in the distribution, or getting heat from the collector surface to where it is needed.
The first significant improvement was rotating the air inlet and outlet into the same plane as the collector. A second innovation comprised a unique manifold integrated with a solar-selective absorber surface. Finally, a shift in focus from wall-mounted to low-sloping roof-mounted panels circumvented ductwork needs and allowed flexible placement over interior zones. Fairstein’s many other improvements to the technology enhanced performance, ease of manufacture, and durability.

Design benefits.

Unlike wall-mounted units, the roof-mounted Skyheater requires no additional ductwork to distribute its heat, as each panel outputs a robust column of air that penetrates up to 20 feet downward from the ceiling. The Skyheater also combats heat loss through the roof by de-laminating the warmer ceiling air layer. And unlike skylights, the thermostatically-controlled Skyheaters won’t pass heat into the building during summer.
Solar Labs versatile systems can be mounted on factories, corporate buildings, warehouses, retail structures, aircraft hangers, agricultural buildings and large workshops.

Next: Design and installation.

Solar Labs is looking for beta sites!

Skyheater: the new standard in solar heating.