Insolation, Architecture, and Energy Management Insolation (INcident SOLar radiATION) where YOU live.
One of the primary reason solar shades are so popular is because they offer great energy management - especially in areas with a particularly high amount of solar irradiation. Here is some of the science behind the highest quality roller shades and why you should consider using them in your home and office.
Here is a term you have never probably heard - Insolation: a measure of solar radiation energy that strikes a given surface area during a specified period of time.
Due to the path of the sun in the sky over various geographical locations (with different latitudes), different parts of the USA and Canada receive differing amounts of solar radiation throughout the year. The amounts are also affected seasonally, with the sun's path changing slowly between summer and winter.
Insolation and Orientation Cities at lower latitudes receive higher insolation levels, and therefore have greater cooling concerns, and the orientation of the window (facing North, South, East or West) also significantly affects the amount of heat gain a window will allow.
North facing windows experience the least heat gain, receiving early morning sun and the late afternoon summer sun, which has such a great angle of incidence that most of the radiation is either reflected by the glass or blocked by walls flanking the windows
South facing windows collect solar heat the best during winter, and are easier to shade during the summer
East facing windows lose significant amounts of heat in winter, and seasonal sun path angles cause direct sunshine and allow more heat gain on summer mornings.
West facing windows have the same issues as east facing windows, except that they experience even more heat gain during summer afternoons because they get direct sun during the hottest part of the day.
Solar Screen Shades are particularly effective in passive solar applications, because they allow complete control over how much the shade is lowered during winter to take advantage of winter insolation to warm a building. Users can strike the perfect balance between glare control and increasing or decreasing solar heat gain at windows, whereas other types of window treatments block the view to block the sun.
What makes High Performance Fabrics so effective? Windows are struck by solar radiation, as are the shades within. Some of the radiation will be absorbed and the remainder reflected. That absorbed energy is converted to thermal energy, or heat, inside the structure.
High performance solar screen fabrics reflect more of that heat energy and absorb less, therefore decreasing the interior temperature increase. Even dark colors, which are traditionally less effective at reducing heat gain, have excellent thermal protection in high performance fabrics. Light colored High Performance fabrics both reduce heat gain and provide excellent view-through, due to the reflectivity of the metallized exterior of the fabric preventing light from flowing through the fabric itself.
Glare Control in Low Insolation Areas Energy saving is important, but so is comfort. Even areas without high insolation values can have uncomfortable levels of glare. Mid- and high level clouds can cause significant light diffusion and high levels of glare even when the sun isn't directly visible. Solar Screen Shades again strike the perfect balance, allowing just the right amount of light into an interior space, with complete control over that balance in the hands of the user.
We would love to work with you on your solar roller shade project. Also, for an online estimate of what your project might cost check out our online solar roller shade calculator.
One of the primary reason solar shades are so popular is because they offer great energy management - especially in areas with a particularly high amount of solar irradiation. Here is some of the science behind the highest quality roller shades and why you should consider using them in your home and office.
Here is a term you have never probably heard - Insolation: a measure of solar radiation energy that strikes a given surface area during a specified period of time.
Due to the path of the sun in the sky over various geographical locations (with different latitudes), different parts of the USA and Canada receive differing amounts of solar radiation throughout the year. The amounts are also affected seasonally, with the sun's path changing slowly between summer and winter.
Insolation and Orientation Cities at lower latitudes receive higher insolation levels, and therefore have greater cooling concerns, and the orientation of the window (facing North, South, East or West) also significantly affects the amount of heat gain a window will allow.
North facing windows experience the least heat gain, receiving early morning sun and the late afternoon summer sun, which has such a great angle of incidence that most of the radiation is either reflected by the glass or blocked by walls flanking the windows
South facing windows collect solar heat the best during winter, and are easier to shade during the summer
East facing windows lose significant amounts of heat in winter, and seasonal sun path angles cause direct sunshine and allow more heat gain on summer mornings.
West facing windows have the same issues as east facing windows, except that they experience even more heat gain during summer afternoons because they get direct sun during the hottest part of the day.
Solar Screen Shades are particularly effective in passive solar applications, because they allow complete control over how much the shade is lowered during winter to take advantage of winter insolation to warm a building. Users can strike the perfect balance between glare control and increasing or decreasing solar heat gain at windows, whereas other types of window treatments block the view to block the sun.
What makes High Performance Fabrics so effective? Windows are struck by solar radiation, as are the shades within. Some of the radiation will be absorbed and the remainder reflected. That absorbed energy is converted to thermal energy, or heat, inside the structure.
High performance solar screen fabrics reflect more of that heat energy and absorb less, therefore decreasing the interior temperature increase. Even dark colors, which are traditionally less effective at reducing heat gain, have excellent thermal protection in high performance fabrics. Light colored High Performance fabrics both reduce heat gain and provide excellent view-through, due to the reflectivity of the metallized exterior of the fabric preventing light from flowing through the fabric itself.
Glare Control in Low Insolation Areas Energy saving is important, but so is comfort. Even areas without high insolation values can have uncomfortable levels of glare. Mid- and high level clouds can cause significant light diffusion and high levels of glare even when the sun isn't directly visible. Solar Screen Shades again strike the perfect balance, allowing just the right amount of light into an interior space, with complete control over that balance in the hands of the user.
We would love to work with you on your solar roller shade project. Also, for an online estimate of what your project might cost check out our online solar roller shade calculator.
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