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HISTORY
Wisconsin
Solar Design architects and structural engineers have been
manufacturing and installing glass structures including
skylights, greenhouses, solariums and atriums for residential
use and public buildings since 1981. During its early existence
Wisconsin
Solar Design participated in the pursuit of active and passive solar
energy applications that had moved into national consciousness
as a response to escalating oil prices and concern about
a
declining
environment. Often referred to as the Camelot period
for solar energy usage, the period ended abruptly with the
suspension of state and federal incentives for solar use.
Wisconsin
Solar Design continues its interest in these renewable energy sources
providing guidance and assistance to those with similar
concerns.
Wisconsin Solar Design's focus on the manufacture of glass
structures was a natural jumping-off point from the large
scale glass collection arrays required for commercial usage
of solar energy. Wisconsin
Solar Design gained the experience to apply a new
generation of innovations to the design of overhead glazing
systems. Our current manufacture of glass structures consists
primarily of providing custom metal framed skylights, greenhouses,
solariums and atriums.
INNOVATIONS
Wisconsin
Solar Design engineers sought changes to tighten-up skylight
construction and eliminate energy losses from critical joints
with the surrounding construction. Wisconsin
Solar Design provides the only
fully insulated sill in the skylight industry as standard
equipment. The connection to the curb is formed with a wide
chamfered joint such that the adjoining surfaces form a
broad area of contact where an effective seal can be made.
The Wisconsin
Solar Design insulated sill is thermally isolated with non-conductive
EPS insulation.
Water tightness is a primary criteria for a glazed structure.
Our engineers rewrote skylight conventions. Prior to the
Wisconsin
Solar Design drainage concept, skylights were totally depending on
bridges formed of sealant at horizontal joints for water
repulsion. This sealant use works for only a limited time
and contributes to giving skylights a bad name. Wisconsin
Solar Design engineered
an offset glass design to provide positive water drainage
at horizontal joints, a unique feature in the skylight industry.
Additionally, the Wisconsin
Solar Design skylight system provides extruded
sill flashings, connections with concealed fasteners and
friction fitting glass clip covers for architectural elegance
and durable maintenance-free performance.
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