Bombardier Installs Solar Air Heating System as Part of Green Mission

Wednesday, June 29, 2011 – Bombardier Inc. has been a corporate role model of energy efficiency for years, but recently the world’s third largest aircraft manufacturer took initial steps toward more green technology by using a solar energy retrofit to preheat outdoor air at its Mirabel, Quebec industrial building.

At the company’s 40,000-square-foot research and development facility at the Mirabel Airport, for example, Bombardier’s plant engineering group authorized the recent installation of a Lubi™, a wall-mounted solar air heater, supplied by Enerconcept Technologies of Quebec, that is amidst a two-year payback for that application. The Lubi supplements the existing natural gas-fired make-up air unit by preheating wintertime outdoor air for the 52-foot-tall, hangar style building as required by ASHRAE Standard 62-mandated commercial requirements.

“In 2008 we analyzed all types of equipment with a goal of reducing our electric and natural gas consumption,” said Serge Dumont, P.Eng., plant engineering and tooling manager, commercial aircraft div.–Bombardier.  “We decided only projects with a two-year payback or less would give us the most effective return on investment,”

The 145-foot-wide x 12-foot-high solar collector aesthetically simulates architectural windows and covers about 25-percent of the 7,600-square-foot masonry wall. It is delivering an annual 16-ton reduction of CO2 emissions and a $5,000 (CAD) natural gas savings. Over the course of its 20-year (minimum) lifecycle, the natural gas savings will undoubtedly rise well past $100,000 when considering inevitable fossil fuel price escalations. Lifecycle CO2   reductions is estimated at 320 tons.

2 responses to “Bombardier Installs Solar Air Heating System as Part of Green Mission”

1. solar air heater says:

   November 20, 2011 at 3:58 pm

   Thank you for posting this useful information – I believe solar air heater to be the most effective way of using the Sun’s energy

   Reply
2. Young ny fibroid says:

   November 28, 2011 at 2:12 pm

   Interesting banter I’ve bookmarked the page on Digg.com under “Bombardier Installs Solar Air Heating System as Part of Green Mission Solar Air Heating.org”. Cheers!

   Reply