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Show iQasfi The National Enterprise, April 14, 1976 page twelve Solar Energy Research Offers Do it Yourself Kits continued from page Eleven Instead of expensive, ing it to flow down the film in film rigid. The fiberglass panels are clear glass covers used in more durable, but also more other solar heating systems, the Solar Energy Research model uses translucent fiberglass panels or a translucent plastic film, like Saran Wrap, but thicker. The plastic film is less expensive, according to Freeman, but subject to vandalism An air blowing unit at the top of the framework keeps the expensive. The heat absorber is a high density polyethylene film similar to the material used in large trash bags. . As heat collects on the material, water is sprayed onto the absorber. The water contains a wetting agent caus sheets rather than bead up and drip off the absorber. It flows down into the storage tank below, and when needed, is pumped into tne home where it warms air in the homes forced air system, much the way an automobile heating system works. When the unit isnt in operation, as at night' or in extremely cloudy weather, the water automatically drains into the tank to avoid freezing. Solar Energy . Research also makes two kinds of controllers for solar energy heating systems which it markets under the trade name Solar-MatThese systems, which turn the unit on and off and switch over to conventional heating systems are being used on solar heating systems built by other firms. Since the collection system requires up to a third of e. the floor area of the house, it usually will occupy the entire south side of the house. It can be built around windows if necessary. According to Spike Rumley, chief of operations, the exact size of the collection system is gauged to the heat loss of the house, with figures projected to have the unit furnish between 70 and 80 percent of the heating needs. The cost of the system, he said, varies, but it usually works out to around $10 for each square foot of collector space. For instance, he said, a home with full side wall insulation, built with two foot by six foot framing, and with 10 to 12 inches of attic insulation, will usually require about $325 square feet of collector for a 1,500 square foot home with all of the space on one floor. That would run the cost to $3,000 to $3,500, Rumley said. A similar unit, free standing, would cost around $5,100 because of the extra support needed. .wtwtae The company has one unit of 1,900 square feet, and it provides 67 percent of the heat needed for an uninsulated 1 ,450 square foot greenhouse in Longmont. Other units are in Miller-villPa., and Niwot, Col. Yet another unit is being completed with the Mosier Apartments in Lakewood, Col. e, At this point, the company hasnt sold any of its units. The ones' built have been by the company for demonstration or by its licensed dealers. Solar Energy Research, according to James B. Wiegand, president, has received approval for its patent on the system. The company went public in December, and the entire issue of five million shares sold out in less than three days, Wiegand said. The former shareholders, For further information please call James Ilarrett, Chairman. Area Code 208 356-4229. from the time the company was private, retain 60 percent control with 7,499,448 of the stock, with public ownership in the shares that were issued. The firm has authorization to issue up to 20 million shares but has no present plans to issue more stock, Wiegand said. According to the panys offering First Lombard Corporation Investment Bankers Salt Lake City Idaho Falls com- circular, product research and development and marketing will use nearly half of the $418,000 in net proceeds from the public sale and a fourth will be used to pay debt and take care of administrative expenses. The remaining $87,240 is . the companys working capital So far, the company has six full time employees and cne part time employee. At this point Wiegand is the chief salesman. |