The Zula — DIY Solar Ventilation
If you can use a screwdriver, you can install this in 15 minutes flat.
- 3 industrial-grade solar fans · 630 CFM airflow
- Fits standard 21" × 14.5" window cutout
- Made in NC · 80,000-hour working life
- Free shipping · Ships in 1–2 days
15 minutes. One screwdriver. Done.
Most home cooling solutions require an electrician, a roofer, or both. Powered attic vents need wiring. Window AC units block your window. Even most "DIY" solar vents require complex mounting hardware and roof work.
The Zula is sized to fit standard 21" × 14.5" garage door window cutouts and shed gable vents. You pop out the existing window or vent (4–8 screws, save them), drop the Zula in, screw it down, connect a single on/off switch wire. Walk outside. Done.
We've watched first-time homeowners do this in 12 minutes. The solar panel takes over the second sun hits it. No app, no calibration, no maintenance.
Engineered for the homeowner, not the contractor.
Powered by sunlight
A 75W solar panel runs the fans whenever the sun's up. No wiring to your panel, no batteries to swap, no monthly bills. The hotter the day, the harder it works.
Real airflow, not a breeze
630 CFM combined across three 120mm fans spinning 5,000–7,000 RPM. Enough to fully cycle a two-car garage's air every few minutes.
No roof work, ever
Drops into an existing garage door window cutout or a 21" × 14.5" hole. Screwdriver only. No drilling new holes, no roof leaks, no electrician.
Made in NC, built to last
Fabricated and assembled in North Carolina. Recycled insulated plastic housing that won't rust or crack. 80,000-hour rated working life. Patent pending.
15 minutes. One screwdriver. Done.
Pop out your window
A few screws and your garage door window comes right out. About 5 minutes.
Drop the Zula in
Sized to fit standard 21" × 14.5" cutouts. Screw in, connect the on/off switch, done.
Walk outside
The solar panel takes over the moment sun hits it. No app, no wiring, no batteries.
Compatible with: Wayne Dalton 9100 Sonoma, Clopay, and most standard residential garage doors with 21" × 14.5" window cutouts.
In garages, sheds, and trade show floors across the US.
Every photo here is a real Zula — installed, demoed, or built. Not a render.
Residential garage · 2 units installed in window cutouts
Three industrial fans · 630 CFM combined
Apex, NC · Wayne Dalton install
75W solar panel · no wiring, no batteries
Durham, NC · two-unit garage install
Install step 1 · screwdriver, 5 minutes
Install step 2 · drop the unit in
Demo unit · indoor hardwire operation
Production line · made in North Carolina
Live at IBS Orlando · Booth W7670
IDA Expo 2024 · Las Vegas Convention Center
GSC Builder Show 2024 · Knoxville, TN
One unit, four spaces, infinite uses.
Garage doors
Replace a standard garage door window pane. The most common install, and the easiest. Compatible with Wayne Dalton 9100 Sonoma, Clopay, and other major brands.
Sheds & barns
Replace passive gable vents with active fans. Trusted by NC Shed Builders, Beachy Barns, and dozens of US shed builders who include the Zula as a standard upgrade.
Attics
Ventilate without roof penetration. No new holes, no leak risk, no professional install required. A retrofit alternative to roof-mounted attic vents.
Greenhouses & workshops
Keep growing temperatures stable in greenhouses. Vent fumes from a hobby workshop. Pest-proof — the active fans deter birds and insects from nesting.
Chicken coops & pet rooms
Keep animals comfortable in summer. Eliminate ammonia buildup. The fully solar design means zero ongoing electricity cost.
Tiny homes & remote buildings
Off-grid cabins. Tree houses. Pool houses. Tiny homes. Anywhere a power line doesn't reach but you still need active ventilation, the Zula works.
It's not the same thing.
Roof and gable vents are passive — they only move air when wind is moving. Here's what changes when you replace one with a Zula.
The Zula
- Powered by sunlight — moves air even on still days
- Drops temp 20–25°F vs outside
- Installs in your existing window cutout
- Pest-proof — fans actively deter birds & insects
- One-time $299, zero ongoing cost
- 15-minute DIY install, screwdriver only
- 80,000 hours of operating life
- No roof penetration — zero leak risk
Passive roof/gable vent
- Wind-dependent — dead air on still days
- No measurable cooling effect
- Requires roof penetration ($400–800 install)
- Birds nest, insects enter freely
- Risk of roof leaks for years to come
- Professional install required
- Replaceable parts wear out
- Adds new holes to your roof
Industrial parts. Homeowner price.
Built with components that would normally show up in commercial HVAC, sized for residential install and priced under $300.
Homeowners who stopped sweating.
Real quotes from owners of garages, sheds, and barns running the Zula.
My shed doesn't feel like an oven anymore.
Verified homeownerShed install · NC
I love that it runs on solar — no extra wiring or power bills.
Verified homeownerGarage install · NC
It's the first shed I actually enjoy working in.
Verified homeownerWorkshop install · NC
Trusted by builders & dealers across the US
- NC Shed Builders
- Beachy Barns
- MAST Outdoor Structures
- Glick's Sheds
- Coastal Shed Co.
- + 25 more
Built in a garage, for garages.
The Zula started as a backyard problem. The inventor — a Cary, NC engineer with a hot garage — couldn't find a ventilation product that actually moved air on still days without requiring a roof penetration or an extension cord. So he built one in his garage, using hardware-store parts and three industrial cooling fans.
After early prototypes proved themselves with neighbors and a local shed builder, the company moved to formal manufacturing in North Carolina. Today the Zula is listed with the International Door Association, ships from a North Carolina facility, and is integrated into the build configurators of regional shed builders like NC Shed Builders.
The name "Zula" was chosen for its African origin meaning to inspire — a nod to the kind of small, useful design we want every garage and shed to have.
On the trade show floor.
Everything you might ask.
Will the Zula actually keep my garage cooler?
How hard is the install really?
What if there's no sun? Does it stop working?
Can birds or insects get in?
How loud is it?
What garage door brands is it compatible with?
Does this work for sheds, attics, greenhouses — not just garages?
What's in the box?
How long does shipping take?
Does it ship to Canada or internationally?
Where can I see one in person before buying?
Get the screwdriver. That's it.
One Zula. Free US shipping. Ships in 1–2 days. Ships in 1–2 days.
- Free shipping
- 1–2 day ship
- Made in NC
- 50 units available