A thermal insulating apparatus for insulating a building envelope is provided. The thermal insulating apparatus may comprise at least one panel comprising one or more layers of insulating material, and at least one attachment site for joining the thermal insulating apparatus to at least one position of said building envelope. The thermal insulating apparatus may be operable between an open position allowing access to a wall opening, and a closed position in which at least one panel of the thermal insulating apparatus substantially covers and thermally insulates said wall opening. The thermal insulating apparatus may further comprise at least one solar thermal energy collector unit for collecting heat from solar thermal energy from sunlight, and the collected heat may be used for heating a structure such as a home or garage.

A thermal insulating apparatus for insulating a building envelope is provided. The thermal insulating apparatus may comprise at least one panel comprising one or more layers of insulating material, and at least one attachment site for joining the thermal insulating apparatus to at least one position of said building envelope. The thermal insulating apparatus may be operable between an open position allowing access to a wall opening, and a closed position in which at least one panel of the thermal insulating apparatus substantially covers and thermally insulates said wall opening. The thermal insulating apparatus may further comprise at least one solar thermal energy collector unit for collecting heat from solar thermal energy from sunlight, and the collected heat may be used for heating a structure such as a home or garage.

An improved double skin facade system for buildings is disclosed. In one embodiment, the double skin facade system is a multi-functional device that can be used in a variety of ways to provide heat, produce and store solar and wind electricity, take advantage of natural and biological properties of plants, and provide cooling and natural ventilation. In one embodiment, the device is comprised of a mounting structure, and multiple columns of interconnected modules. Through the interconnected movable modules, the double skin facade system can easily switch functionalities between a heater, ventilator and cooling system. The device is easy and inexpensive to operate and its functionalities can be changed with simple touches of buttons.

An improved solar heater and ventilator device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the solar heater and ventilator system is a multi-functional device that can be used in a variety of ways to provide heat, produce and store electricity, and provide natural ventilation. In one embodiment, the device is comprised of a main frame, multiple columns of interconnected movable cubes and a distributor panel. Through the interconnected movable cubes, the solar heater and ventilator system can easily switch functionalities between a solar heater and a ventilator and cooling system. The device is easy and inexpensive to operate, as it does not require any external electricity, and its functionalities can be changed with simple touches of buttons.

An improved solar heater and ventilator device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the solar heater and ventilator system is a multi-functional device that can be used in a variety of ways to provide heat, produce and store electricity, and provide natural ventilation. In one embodiment, the device is comprised of a main frame, multiple columns of interconnected movable cubes and a distributor panel. Through the interconnected movable cubes, the solar heater and ventilator system can easily switch functionalities between a solar heater and a ventilator and cooling system. The device is easy and inexpensive to operate, as it does not require any external electricity, and its functionalities can be changed with simple touches of buttons.

Provided is a solar collector that captures and utilizes solar energy and includes a plurality of vacuum tubes which are disposed by extending horizontally and are disposed parallel to each other with a predetermined distance; and a reflection plate having a substantially planar shape, which reflects solar light on an opposite side of the sun with respect to the plurality of vacuum tubes, in which the reflection plate includes a reflection surface having a serrated section at a corresponding position between vacuum tubes adjacent to each other, and in the reflection surface, one face of a serration forms a first reflection surface that reflects the solar light to the vacuum tube on a lower side among the vacuum tubes adjacent to each other.

A solar energy utilization window includes two plate members, and a first prism, and an energy collection portion, in which the energy collection portion is installed with a predetermined gap interposed between the energy collection portion and a second side of a first prism, and in a triangular prism, a refractive index and each internal angle of the triangle are set so that there are three types of optical paths of sunlight that has passed through an outer glass and entered into a first prism from the first side.

A solar energy utilization window includes two plate members, and a first prism, and an energy collection portion, in which the energy collection portion is installed with a predetermined gap interposed between the energy collection portion and a second side of a first prism, and in a triangular prism, a refractive index and each internal angle of the triangle are set so that there are three types of optical paths of sunlight that has passed through an outer glass and entered into a first prism from the first side.

A solar energy utilization system includes a solar heat collector that is mounted to a glass surface of a building from the interior and that heats a heating medium by heat energy obtained by taking in solar energy, and an inner glass that is provided on the solar heat collector on the interior side of the building and that uses the heating medium from the solar heat collector on the interior side. A far-infrared cut-off process is applied to the inner glass so that both the absorptivity and emissivity and transmittance of far-infrared rays with a wavelength of at least 9 m to 10 m are 20% or less.

A solar energy utilization system includes a solar heat collector that is mounted to a glass surface of a building from the interior and that heats a heating medium by heat energy obtained by taking in solar energy, and an inner glass that is provided on the solar heat collector on the interior side of the building and that uses the heating medium from the solar heat collector on the interior side. A far-infrared cut-off process is applied to the inner glass so that both the absorptivity and emissivity and transmittance of far-infrared rays with a wavelength of at least 9 m to 10 m are 20% or less.