Research conducted by London South Bank University has proven that blinds can significantly reduce internal operative temperatures when combined with ventilation.
This study involved environmental monitoring of newly converted apartments in north London over a 16-day period. Operative temperatures as high as 47.5c were recorded in an apartment with no window shading.
Different shading treatments were trialled, and the data proved (at 95% confidence levels) that external blinds reduced the operative temperatures by between 11 – 18c and internal blinds by between 9 – 13c.
It is estimated that some 20% of UK homes are suffering from overheating. Passive solutions such as effective solar shading are important contributors used to control temperatures for the health and wellbeing of occupants, whilst also helping to reduce the energy usage of other cooling methods.
Overheating obviously affects other buildings too and there is research to show that uncomfortable temperatures have a negative impact on learning in schools, extend recovery rates of patients in hospitals and lower the productivity of staff in offices.
Solar shading should be considered as a first line of defence to help control overheating. In particular external shading prevents heat from entering the building so there then is not the challenge of removing hot air caused by preventable solar gain. But as the London South Bank University study showed, correctly specified internal shading can also have a significant benefit in reducing internal temperatures.
The British Blind and Shutter Association has a website dedicated to the benefits and science of solar shading, including overheating, with helpful guidance notes, curated research and videos at www.ShadeIT.org.uk
