How to Keep Your Home Cool with Dynamic Shading
Unprotected glass is the greatest source of heat entering a building. As temperatures continue to rise, in part thanks to global warming, keeping your home cool and comfortable can seem challenging.
According to the Big Issue around 20 per cent of homes in England alone overheat in the summer and a drive to insulate homes against cold could make overheating even worse.
So how can we protect our homes from overheating, without the hassle and expense of reinsulating or installing costly air conditioning units?
Simple – effective, dynamic shading.
How can dynamic shading help in a home?
An automated shading solution is the most effective way to improve light and heat levels in a building as it means the blinds can react and operate in response to sunlight levels and temperature in real-time.
It also eliminates the need for manual operation so you can ensure the blinds are always in the correct position, even when there’s no one home. Sensors, pre-set sequences and reactive sequences can all be set up to control your shading.
By controlling your blinds using smart technology, you are saving time, money, reducing the environmental impact of artificial lighting and cooling, and creating a more comfortable living environment.
Sunlight sensors can detect when there is too much light coming in through the window that could raise internal temperatures or cause problems with glare. Using a temperature sensor in conjunction with the sunlight sensor provides an extra data source to ensure accurate readings.
Once the sensors detect a temperature or light level that is outside your predetermined parameters, the system will send a message to activate the blinds.
The importance of fabric choice
A fabric with a white backing is always going to be the best choice for reflecting heat away from the room. White is a reflective colour which means that when sunlight, and therefore the heat from that sunlight, hits the fabric it will be reflected back towards the window. Regardless of the colour of the fabric face, a white-backed fabric will be an excellent heat reflector.
Both blackout and sunscreening fabrics are available with a white backing so you can have the added benefit of heat reflection regardless of how much light you want to let into a room. A sunscreen fabric will allow privacy whilst still giving you a view out of the room, which is ideal for living areas or offices where we spend a large part of the day.
Can I have electric shading if there’s no power to my windows?
Some homeowners might be put off by the cost of installing motorised blinds.
If there isn’t already power at the windows, the cost of the work needed to run cables and re-decorate can quickly add up.
Battery powered roller blinds are the perfect solution to this problem. Battery blinds are:
- Easy to retrofit
- Don’t need any wiring
- Able to connect to smart home systems such as TaHoma
- Are available from many suppliers
Alternatively, you could get an electrician to add wiring to your windows. This would allow you the option of a mains-powered motor. Though this would likely be more expensive, it does give you more options for control and can be more reliable.
For more information on the pros and cons of battery vs mains-powered motors, check these blogs out:
What is the main takeaway here?
One of the simplest ways to reduce overheating in your home is to utilise shading. Combining a dynamic electric shading solution, with a reflective white-backed fabric, will keep your home cool and comfortable.
Automated dynamic sun shading systems, using the latest shading materials and intelligent control technology, are the way in which we can harness the benefits of daylight without the harmful effects of glare and overheating.
Bring on the sunshine!