ELEMENT:
Pelmeted Roman and Roll Blinds
AIM:
The blinds control the level of direct sunlight and glare inside the
house and reduce the amount of heat lost from the inside when needed.
STRATEGY:
Conserve Energy
Glass is an excellent conductor which means that heat can readily pass
through it. The strategies for the house involve shading the glass in
summer to reduce heat gain and sealing the glass in winter to slow down
heat loss to the outside.
Pelmeted roman and roll blinds reduce the amout of heat lost to the exterior
during winter. The blinds act as insulation to the room, with the pelmets
sealing the area around the blind increasing the performance of the blind.
Pelmeted roman and roll blinds are equivalent to R0.5 insulation on windows,
reducing winter heat loss.
Windows exposed to the North have window hoods or balconies to give a
greater control for internal exposure to the sun in winter and shading
in summer.
Optimise Passive Design
Blinds can maximise the amount daylighting inside the house while still
controlling the amount of direct sunlight and glare. This is especially
necessary on the east and west sides of the house. The life of furnishings
and paints can be increased by the use of blinds as they can fade or deteriorate
when directly exposed to sunlight.
Excellent visible light transmission means that the interior of the home
is illuminated by natural light. The need for electric lighting is reduced
during the day and consequently the demand for electricity is less.
REFERENCE:
Hollo, N. Warm House Cool House - Inspirational Designs for Low-Energy
Housing. Choice Books. 1995
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