Industrial
Calgary Transit
Penthouse SolarWall® collectors on Victoria Park Bus Garage, left.
Curved solar panels on the main SolarWall® installation at Victoria Park Garage, right.
Background
When the Calgary Herald published the story on
the SolarWall® installation at three municipal bus
garages, the article was headed by the following
statement: “Say Kyoto three times fast and what
do you get? SolarWall.”
The humorous opener is designed to draw a
connection between CO2 reductions and the
technological solutions that will deliver them. And
it is fitting that in the heart of oil country, the City
of Calgary realized that the Kyoto-based emission
reductions actually represented an opportunity to
increase energy efficiency and save money. The
city had initially allocated $100 million to reduce
their CO2 emissions, but because of the cost
effectiveness of technologies in existence, they
ended up spending only half that amount on
upgrading municipal facilities.
The upgrades were carried out through an energy
performance contract with Siemens Building
Technology. This innovative cooperative
partnership provides for upgrading the
infrastructure and improving the energy efficiency
and comfort levels within buildings. The
improvements are financed by future energy cost
savings. This means that over the course of the
contract, the city will incur a net cost of zero.
Three of Calgary Transit’s bus garages were
selected to be upgraded and retrofitted with
SolarWall® heating and ventilation systems.
Anderson Bus Garage
The were three sections of SolarWall paneling
installed at the Anderson Bus Garage. The main
system occupies 470 m2 (5,060 ft2) on the south
wall, and the heated air is distributed throughout
the vehicle maintenance garage via a SolarWall
fan and ducting system. As well, two additional
penthouse solar heaters were installed; The
louvered wall penthouse is 510 m2 (5,500 ft2) and
the north penthouse wall is 917 m2 (3,010 ft2).
The two penthouse heaters are used to preheat
air entering the air makeup units.
Spring Gardens Bus Garage
This 105 m2 (1,125 ft2) SolarWall collector is
horizontally mounted on the penthouse wall and
is connected to a SolarWall fan which replaces
the existing air intake system.
Victoria Park Bus Garage
The main SolarWall heater at Victoria Park
measures 1,025 m2 (11,030 ft2). An additional
160 m2 (1,705 ft2) system was installed over the
bus entrance wall, and another 230 m2 (2,480 ft2)
heater was installed on the penthouse wall to
preheat air going into the air makeup units.

Results
The SolarWall systems for Calgary Transit will
eliminate more than 650 tonnes of CO2 each
year. Using solar as a free source of fuel to heat
the required ventilation air represents an essential
component of any energy plan. Commenting on
this, Ron Collins, spokesperson for Calgary
Transit said: “It’s going to conserve energy obvi-
ously—these solar walls are cutting edge
technology with vastly improved ventilation.”
In embarking on a policy of CO2 displacement,
the City of Calgary has affirmed the reality that
reducing conventional energy also saves a lot of
money, year over year. The city estimates that
they will be saving a total of $10 million per year
when the complete energy program is complete,
SolarWall ducting inside Anderson Bus Garage
U.S.A.
Conserval Systems Inc.
4242 Ridge Lea Road, Suite 28, Buffalo, NY 14226
P: 716-835-4903 F: 716-835-4904
E: info@solarwall.com
www.solarwall.com
SolarWall® systems are patented. SolarWall® and Conserval® are registered trademarks of Conserval Engineering, Inc.
SolarWall panels on Victoria Park Bus
Garage, left. Penthouse collectors at
Spring Gardens Bus Garage, above.
and all the buildings have been upgraded with
new technologies. As well, there will be an
increase in the comfort level within the buildings
using the SolarWall technology, as well as a
reduction in long term maintenance costs
because the technology is maintenance-free.
Such innovative and proactive programs will act
as a model upon which future energy contracts
will be based.
“Calgary is blazing a trail. Here’s an
example that Kyoto can save money,
create work and new investments and
save energy without costing us anything.”
- City of Calgary Alderman
Bob Hawkesworth
SolarWall panels cover the exterior south wall of
Anderson Bus Garage
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