The 21st of March marks the first Global Shading Day. In a time when the earth’s climate is changing more than ever, Global Shading Day sets out to educate society and governments on the environmental, economic and human benefits of solar shading.
What is Solar Shading
Solar shading refers to the process of controlling and reducing the amount of solar radiation going into a building. There are two types of Solar Shading, Fixed and Dynamic:
Fixed shading
Fixed Shading is external and part of the architectural design, and includes features like:
Canopies and awnings
Solar control glazing
Light shelves
Overhangs, vertical fins and balconies
Recessed windows
Fixed Shading is a great feature to protect your buildings from solar radiation, however, it's only practical for certain buildings and it's not as effective as dynamic shading solutions.
Dynamic shading
Internal blinds
Internal and external shutters
Curtains
External Awnings
Dynamic shading allows for more control and is incredibly versatile, which can be further enhanced by automation. Automating your blinds is an easy way to control your space, and users can set timer sensors based on the positioning of the sun, this not only has an effect on the heat input but also on glare and UV exposure within your building.
Why Solar Shading?
As a result of the climate crisis, we’re facing an increase in extreme heatwaves worldwide. Most would presume the best way to tackle the heat in your homes or offices would be using air conditioning units. However, by effectively utilising solar shading you can easily prevent spaces from overheating.
In the UK, running your AC costs an average of 38p per hour and most individuals run them for over eight hours a day in the summer, which works out to around £24 a week added to your electricity bill. By utilising solar shading you can reduce the need for air conditioning and keep your bills low during the summer.
Solar shading doesn’t just have a positive effect on your finances, it also has great environmental benefits. Air conditioning is responsible for 1,950 million tons of C02 released annually, therefore by moving to solar shading to cool spaces and reducing your reliance on AC, you can significantly decrease the carbon emissions you’re releasing into the planet.
We’ve covered financial and environmental benefits, but how does Solar Shading directly affect people? We now spend an average of 90% of our time indoors, therefore we need to create environments where comfort is at the forefront of our minds. Light and heat are important but too much of it will affect our health, well-being and productivity, Solar Shading allows us to create a truly customisable space.
With Ellard’s range of blind motors, dynamic shading is something that we would be able to help you achieve. To learn more about the shading options we can provide, you can access our online brochure here or contact our Head of Blinds Division at leec@ellard.co.uk.
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