Sunflower Corporation
Encyclopedia
Sunflower Corporation is a start-up company founded in 2004 and based in Boulder Colorado, USA. Sunflower develops natural daylighting technology for use in commercial spaces.
The company focuses on active daylighting
systems (as opposed to passive daylighting
systems), which give these systems the ability to make greater use of available daylight for a longer period of time throughout the day.
The company focuses on active daylighting
Active Daylighting
Active daylighting is a system of collecting sunlight using a mechanical device to increase the efficiency of light collection for a given lighting purpose...
systems (as opposed to passive daylighting
Passive Daylighting
Passive daylighting is a system of both: collecting sunlight using static, non-moving, and non-tracking systems such as Windows, Sliding glass doors, most skylights, light tubes, and reflecting the collected daylight deeper inside with elements such as light shelves...
systems), which give these systems the ability to make greater use of available daylight for a longer period of time throughout the day.
New technology and interest
Sunflower Corporation was the recipient of a $25,000 grant from the Governor's Energy Office of Colorado, to bring its product, a "system that harvests sunlight and delivers it into interior spaces" to Colorado schools. Their patent pending technology is being considered by the state to be a 'key component' for a 'new push' in high-performance buildings.- Their daylighting technology lights a 800–8,000 sf room with a single 24 inch roof penetration for most of the day.
- Their system uses a new active daylightingActive DaylightingActive daylighting is a system of collecting sunlight using a mechanical device to increase the efficiency of light collection for a given lighting purpose...
technology that is the only one of its kind on the market that will outperform skylights and light tubeLight tubeLight tubes or light pipes are used for transporting or distributing natural or artificial light. In their application to daylighting, they are also often called sun pipes, sun scopes, solar light pipes, sky lights or daylight pipes.Generally speaking, a light pipe or light tube may refer to:* a...
s by a factor of 4 or more.
Community Support
Sunflower Corporation has been active in supporting various public organizations in Colorado. The company has donated a number of Sundolier units to local schools, including a unit given to Longmont High School in Longmont, CO . Additionally a unit was donated to the Phillip S. Miller Library in Douglas County, Colorado .See also
- DaylightingDaylightingDaylighting is the practice of placing windows or other openings and reflective surfaces so that during the day natural light provides effective internal lighting. Particular attention is given to daylighting while designing a building when the aim is to maximize visual comfort or to reduce energy...
- Active daylightingActive DaylightingActive daylighting is a system of collecting sunlight using a mechanical device to increase the efficiency of light collection for a given lighting purpose...
- Green technology
- Renewable energyRenewable energyRenewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
- Solar powerSolar powerSolar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...