HOW TO MAXIMIZE DAYLIGHT IN COMMERCIAL BUILDING WITHOUT INCREASING HEAT GAIN

To reduce heat in commercial buildings in daylight, you can use shades, blinds, and curtains. On hot days, draw the curtains or shades to keep the sun out. Well-designed sun control and shading devices can dramatically reduce building peak heat gain and cooling requirements and improve the natural lighting quality of building interiors. Depending on the amount and location of fenestration, reductions in annual cooling energy consumption of 5% to 15% have been reported. Horizontal slat-type blinds can also be adjusted to block and reflect direct sunlight onto a light-colored ceiling. When completely closed and lowered on a sunny window, highly reflective blinds can reduce heat gain. External blinds can be installed to more effectively prevent heat from coming into your house. Honeycomb blinds consist of little cells that retain pockets of air. In addition to the most common ways to reduce heat impact, such as shading devices and green roofs, there are also new ways to reduce heat impact such as tensile structures, brise soleil, mashrabiya, and sunbreak.Working with qualified engineers and installers can help to ensure that the best possible choices are made for the building.