American Solar Inc. Delivers "First-Of-Its'-Kind" Solar Heating and Air Conditioning System to the Pentagon

Annandale, VA-American Solar Inc. (ASI) delivered a "first-of-its'-kind" solar heating and solar-heat-activated air conditioning system. ASI built the solar structure to provide heating, air conditioning, lighting, power, and covered storage space for a security inspection station at the Pentagon. The solar roof incorporates a new solar thermal technology to heat and cool the adjacent guard station. The structure provides solar heated air and generates its own electrical power to operate fans, controls, and lighting. The solar power also operates pumps in the rainwater collection system that is used in the cooling process. John Archibald, President American Solar, Inc., made the announcement.

"We're very pleased to deliver the first roofing system to harness the energy of the sun and the rain, for year round heating, cooling, power, lighting, and rainwater management. We think is a great example of how practical solar building components are reducing the impact of high heating and cooling costs". said Archibald.

The solar roof incorporates over a dozen innovative features that deliver energy savings. The most advanced innovations include:

• a unique solar air conditioning cycle that dries and cools outside air without conventional refrigerants,
• desiccant drying of humid air driven by "waste" solar heat in the summer,
• use of high temperature 'air' as the solar heating fluid,
• collected rainwater as the 'refrigerant' fluid for the air conditioning system,
• solar electric panels under the solar roofing tiles, supplying both electricity and solar heat, and
• solar pre-heating and pre-cooling of a heat pump to reduce heat pump electricity use.

With solar activated air conditioning, ASI can give customers continuous use of solar thermal systems. In the past, solar heating systems were only used in the winter and were most beneficial in northern climates with high heating demands most of the year. Now, facilities in Sunbelt states, with high air conditioning demands and moderate heating loads can receive the same year round energy saving benefits," Archibald added.

American Solar's new system enables building owners in all markets to use solar thermal technology whether the building needs heating, air conditioning or both. ASI's system combines its proprietary solar-thermal tile system with dehumidification technology to produce cool, dry air during humid summer days. Facilities in the humid Sunbelt and Mid-Atlantic States, can now benefit from solar activated air conditioning in summer and solar heating in winter.

American Solar, Inc. manufactures new (patent-protected) solar thermal tile and panel systems. These systems produce heat at lower cost than most oil, gas, electric, propane, and solar power sources. The company's systems gather large amounts of solar heated air from attractive tile roofs, flat roofs, wall panels, or ground mounted panels. Customers save money and energy by using solar heated air systems to heat, or pre-heat, almost any application. ASI's products, deliver dependable, continuous and cost-effective energy to commercial, government, and institutional users.

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For further information, visit American Solar's Web site: www.americansolar.com or contact ASI at 703-425-0923 or by email at info@americansolar.com

Media Inquiries:
Market Wise (for American Solar)
Kathryn McGeehan
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