Recently Pvilion CEO Colin Touhey had the privilege of participating alongside an adept group of panelists in a learning session hosted by New York City Economic Development Corp.’s Futureworks Ops21 and the Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Council of NYCSBS.
In it, they discuss robotics and automation, and their value for the future of NYC manufacturing.
Watch the full webinar now:
Official United States Air Force Website | March 4, 2022
By Tech. Sgt. Armando A. Schwier-Morales, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
ORLANDO, Fla. (AFNS) — Senior Master Sgt. Brent Kenney, 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, received the 2022 Spark Tank trophy at the Air Force Association’s Warfare Symposium, March 4.
Kenney’s idea, “Project Arcwater,” is a simple, green, expedited way to save energy and provide drinking water by using solar fabric and environmental water harvesting in an agile combat employment. This will cut the operational energy and logistics associated with operations all around the Department of the Air Force.
It was a close competition as the six semi-finalist teams pitched their ideas to Air and Space Force senior leaders and industry experts during the symposium. As judges deliberated between the pitches, audience members online and in person cast their votes and selected Arcwater as a fan favorite. Shortly after, Arcwater was awarded as the 2022 Spark Tank winner.
“It was an amazing experience,” Kenney explained. “Being part of this process was amazing, getting to know all these other innovators and seeing how they are just as passionate as you are.”
The Spark Tank initiative allows Airmen from around the force to put forward some of their best innovative ideas and compete to make it reality.
Kenney created Arcwater to provide a system that aims to significantly decrease the logistics of transporting water and energy needs at off-the-grid locations through solar panels, a water harvester, and AC/heating tool, creating gallons of potable water out of thin air.
According to Kenney, now that Arcwater is the 2022 Spark Tank winner and has support from DAF, it can shift to reaching its full potential.
“Without the support of those that I work with in my office, I would not be here,” Kenney said.
To read the original article, click here.
Project ArcWater uses Pvilion’s solar powered fabric to harvest water, heat and cool, and provide shelter.
January – February 2022 // VOL 20 NO 1
CHALLENGE
Visitors to the New York Botanical Garden needed a place where they could seek shade, enjoy a beverage, and charge their mobile devices. To solve the garden’s need for accessible, sheltered outdoor seating, the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) and the Botanical Garden turned to Pvilion and their solar-powered shade canopies.
SOLUTION
Pvilion was recently recognized for sustainable efforts by The Architecture MasterPrize for outstanding outdoor, sustainable, and overall product design. One of the company’s products – the Quad Pole Solar Sail – was installed in the Botanical Garden. This solution combines a fabric integrated with photovoltaic cells and a powder-coated steel frame. When erected in an area that receives sunlight, the solar sail can offer energy independent from the local electrical power grid. The structures also come with the option to tie into the local grid, either as a consumer or producer of electricity.
According to the manufacturer, “Eight solar canopies were designed, engineered and installed by Pvilion at the New York Botanical Garden, providing ample space to relax while staying socially distanced. As part of New York City’s emission reduction efforts, seven of the canopies contribute energy directly to the city’s power grid. One structure powers a bank of batteries used by the Garden and its visitors to charge their mobile phones and other devices.”
With the recent need to shift activity outside, Pvilion’s technology has become a necessary, quick, and reliable energy-efficient solution for shelter and energy. The structures in the Botanical Garden were erected by a handful of workers and operational within a matter of hours.
“The climate crisis is real and it is urgent, and that is why the City of New York is taking action to reduce carbon emissions and build a more sustainable future,” said Lisette Camilo, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services. It is only fitting that the New York Botanical Garden, a place known for its greenery, will be leading the way with green energy technologies.
NEEDS MET
Pvilion’s solar power canopy structures meet both short and long-term needs while avoiding the costs, environmental damage, and time associated with erecting and running permanent structures.
To view the full digital edition, click here.
Press Release | By Julia Fowler | January 5, 2022
BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Digital Journal — PVILION, a leading solar powered fabric product provider, announced that the company has been contracted by the United States Air Force’s Rapid Sustainment Office (RSO) to manufacture up to 40 Solar Powered Integrated Structures for development and testing in 2022. These structures will be provided to seven different USAF end users. These users will range from the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) to the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). This will include both active duty and Air National Guard (ANG) units.
About the Products
“These structures will be used all in both expeditionary and austere environments for deployment during Agile Combat Employment (ACE) exercises and real-world scenarios,” said Carl Buhler, Brigadier General (ret), USAF. They are fully self-sufficient, and each structure will include Environmental Control Units (heating and air conditioning), energy storage, lighting, power, and backup generators for cases of inclement weather.
These products transcend the traditional model and will operate as a hybrid power solution, using solar as a primary source and generators as a backup source. This newer, more efficient line, allows the USAF to procure a full turn-key kit from Pvilion and integrate Pvilion’s products into existing structures and infrastructure, on both the power and tent side.
About Pvilion
Pvilion is a solar-based fabrics and tent company, who offers products that range from stand-alone solar canopies to solar military tents, grid-tied long span structures, solar powered charging stations, solar powered curtains, building facades, backpacks and clothing. They are known for integrating solar cells with fabrics and building fabric products that can generate electricity.
About the Program
This program is a continuation of a successful 2019 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program through the RSO and AFWERX. The RSO’s mission is to identify, apply, and scale small business innovations. “The RSO is excited to test Pvilion’s technology with seven separate end-users, and prove out the benefit before potentially scaling to the larger US Air Force,” said Heath Wiseman, Chief of RSO Product Management.
About the Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office
Established by the Secretary of the Air Force in 2018, the RSO increases mission readiness by rapidly identifying, applying, and scaling technology essential to the operation and sustainment of the United States Air Force. www.afrso.com
For more information or to fill out our contact form, click here.
To see the original article, click here.
The Architectural Products Design Awards recognizes and awards the greatest architectural product designers and manufacturers. It seeks to celebrate the ingenuity of products and materials that make great architecture possible, and shine a light on those who create well-made, functional, long lasting, sustainable, beautiful and innovative products.
To learn more about our Heavy Duty Solar Canopy, click here.
The Architectural Products Design Awards recognizes and awards the greatest architectural product designers and manufacturers. It seeks to celebrate the ingenuity of products and materials that make great architecture possible, and shine a light on those who create well-made, functional, long lasting, sustainable, beautiful and innovative products.
To learn more about our Heavy Duty Solar Canopy, click here.
The Architectural Products Design Awards recognizes and awards the greatest architectural product designers and manufacturers. It seeks to celebrate the ingenuity of products and materials that make great architecture possible, and shine a light on those who create well-made, functional, long lasting, sustainable, beautiful and innovative products.
To learn more about our Quad Pole Solar Sails, click here.
This project was funded by the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) as part of its IDEA program. DCAS launched the Innovative Demonstrations for Energy Adaptability (IDEA) Program in 2014 to help meet the City’s emissions reductions goals by engaging vendors to test new or underutilized energy technologies in City buildings. The IDEA Program helps vendors build the use case for their solutions, while addressing City building system or operational challenges and informing the DCAS cleantech strategy and investments.
