LightManufacturing of California has delivered four H1 Heliostats to provide heat and light to an apartment building in Belgium.
These heliostats, sun-tracking mirrors were installed on a garden wall to direct light into North–facing windows, to get indirect sunlight for hours a day.
When the mid-day temperature reaches around 20 degree C, the light is targeted onto the balconies. When mid-day temperatures are colder, the light is shone right into the apartments, to bring extra heat into the building, claimed the authorities.
Each H1 heliostat reflects up to 1300 Watts of heat, and 115,000 lumens of light. With the help of wireless remote control users can move the reflected light from balcony to windows.
In case one apartment is temporarily vacant that heliostat is re-oriented to another apartment shifting the targets of the heliostat array.
LightManufacturing introduced the H1 heliostat in 2012, and has shipped the systems to numerous clients in the US, Belgium, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and more.
It was created to support the patented solar plastic molding systems, which make products like water tanks and boats without using fossil fuels. Later the firm began using it as a stand-alone product, by offering for sale to the general public.
The firm claims the H1 is the world’s lowest cost–per–reflected–watt, professional grade heliostat. This system is a robust, industrial-strength tool for larger architectural clients and solar thermal projects, says, Karl von Kries, CEO.