Patent ID: 8082916

Claim:
A solar heating block for covering at least a portion of a building wall opening, said solar heating block having an interior volume defined within: a top face and a bottom face which is substantially parallel thereto, wherein said block is stackable along said top and bottom faces; a first face, which is substantially perpendicular to said top face, for facing the exterior of the building; and a second face, which is substantially parallel to the first face, for facing the interior of the building; said interior volume including a first compartment and a second compartment, said first compartment being formed in part by said first face so that the first compartment is an exterior facing compartment, and said second compartment being between said first compartment and said second face so that the second compartment is an interior facing compartment, wherein: said first compartment is substantially filled and sealed with a translucent insulating material so as to form a lens; said second compartment is substantially filled and sealed with a heat-absorbing material and includes a volume for allowing for expansion of the heat-absorbing material; and the first face, second face, and a third face, which is between said first and second compartments and is substantially parallel to the first face, are clear or translucent.