A Guide to Specifying Exterior Blinds for Architects: Unleashing the Potential of Energy-Efficient and Sustainable Buildings
Aesthetics, functionality, and durability consideration for upcoming designs
In response to a rapidly evolving world and climate, the UK must adapt its building landscape. At COP29 in Baku, Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared that the UK seeks to reduce carbon emissions by an astounding 81% by 2035. To achieve this ambitious goal, every sector, including building and planning, must prioritize eco-friendly and energy-efficient solutions.
One increasingly popular European solution, gaining traction in the UK, is exterior blinds. As the UK's weather parallels that of our European neighbors, we must adapt buildings to the warmer climate similarly. Exterior blinds offer numerous ways to improve building performance. Forward-thinking providers, like Kensington Blinds, pinpoint key factors that make exterior shading solutions a must for architects in the planning and tendering phases.
1. Efficient Cooling without Air ConditioningAccording to the International Energy Agency (IEA), cooling is the fastest-growing energy consumer in buildings[2]. To combat this surge in energy consumption, the UK's updated 'Part O' of the Building Regulations promotes eco-friendly shading alternatives to regulate building temperatures instead of systems like air conditioning. By preventing buildings from absorbing heat, exterior blinds reduce the reliance on energy-intensive cooling systems.
Kensington Blinds incorporates solar glare reflective fabric to ensure heat is kept at bay, helping to make homes more energy-efficient than traditional interior blinds. Temperatures can drop by as much as 7C in overheated homes with these exterior solutions[4].
2. Eco-friendly BuildingsTo reduce emissions as mandated by the government, roughly 70% of carbon emissions in buildings must be shaved off[6]. Whether modernizing existing properties or constructing new builds, architects have numerous opportunities to boost efficiency. Coupled with appropriate insulation and top-tier windows and doors, exterior blinds can help maintain a consistent temperature throughout the home year-round.
3. Privacy and Natural LightExterior blinds blur the outside view into the home. While screening the inside, these blinds allow natural light to seep through, with a translucent screen material that deflects the heat. This balance between privacy and sunlight is essential for homeowners who value the integration of large, airy windows commonly found in European architecture.
4. Aesthetic Appeal and Long-Term SavingsExterior blinds add an appealing, streamlined touch to any home exterior. The hardware can be discreetly concealed within the façade, ensuring a clean, contemporary design. Once installed, these sleek solutions come with minimal upkeep and yield significant long-term savings compared to air conditioning.
5. Smart Home ReadinessThe compatibility of Kensington Blinds with smart home automation makes exterior blinds an ideal addition for future-proofing. Users can sync their blinds with smart home systems, even installing sensors to lower the blinds when the room temperature exceeds a certain threshold. With remote control capabilities, this seamless integration enables dynamic adjustments from virtually anywhere.
For more information, contact [email protected] or visit the Kensington Blinds website.
[1] UK Energy Saving Trust - Exterior shading[2] IEA - Global Energy Efficiency 2021[3] Carbon Brief - A reference guide to cooling in buildings: opportunities for reducing emissions and improving comfort[4] Kensington Blinds - The Benefits of Exterior Blinds[5] Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland - External Sunblinds: Managing Thermal Comfort in New Residential Buildings[6] Committee on Climate Change - Net Zero: The UK's contribution to stopping global warming (2021 report)
- In an effort to combat the growing energy consumption in cooling systems, the UK's updated 'Part O' of the Building Regulations promotes eco-friendly shading alternatives, such as exterior blinds, to regulate building temperatures instead of air conditioning.
- Exterior blinds, when combined with appropriate insulation and top-tier windows and doors, can help architects and homeowners reduce the carbon emissions in buildings by maintaining a consistent temperature throughout the home year-round.
- The translucent screen material of exterior blinds allows natural light to seep through while screening the inside, offering a balance between privacy and natural light, essential for homeowners who value large, airy windows commonly found in European architecture.
