National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, MD)

Department of Health and Human Services

Research laboratory buildings at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) - an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - require a great deal of fresh outdoor air to maintain proper indoor air quality. During winter months, a large amount of energy is used to heat that air. NIH has installed a solar air heating system that delivers heated air directly to the outdoor air intakes, which reduces the heating load and saves energy. Flat panel solar roofing, solar siding, and wall mounted solar air heater boards provide clean and green energy to buildings on the 300-acre medical research campus in Bethesda, Maryland.