A solar powered fan strikes me as an unusual concept. Fans, being used primarily indoors, seem far removed from the sun’s energizing rays. In building and design products, we see many varieties of solar panels such as Suntech’s see through solar panels, or Tegolasolare’s terracotta solar panels. We also see solar powered products such as the Ec-O Bench by Steven Ma and the MIT student designed SOFT Rocker.

MacroVoltaic Sustainable Solar Powered Fan. Manufactured by MacroAir.

I guess the surprise at the solar powered fan is that it is simply solar powered. The MacroVoltaic fan by MacroAir is 100% powered by the sun, which is according to the company, quite a feat. Energy efficiency is key in a solar powered object that must be sustained off an unlimited but sometimes fickle power source. The MacroVoltaic fan is a high volume, low speed fan that moves a huge amount of air (376,804 cubic feet) for about $1.00 a day. H

What is special about the MacroVoltaic is its capacity to be 100% stand alone. The system includes a specialized component that converts power from the attached solar panels. A stand alone solar fan is useful for remote locations or for people who just want to use alternative energy sources. When the sun is not shining, the MacroVoltaic fan can be attached to an auxiliary power supply.

About the Company: Founded by Walter Boyd, a self-taught engineer and inventor, MacroAir manufactures industrial fans. HVLS fans were his solution to a dairy cow problem, and in the last ten years, MacroAir has established its HVLS fan as one the most functional air circulating fans to come along in the history of mechanical air movement. MacroAir sells about 2,500 fans a year, each measuring from 6 to 24 feet in diameter. Their application has moved well beyond dairy farms to include factories, wineries, warehouses and airplane hangars as well as restaurants, schools, retail stores and gyms in the U.S. and abroad.