InSync Solar

Interview with Lois Arena, Passive House Consultant
at Steven Winter Associates

I recently had the pleasure to sit down with Lois Arena, the Senior Mechanical Engineer for Steven Winter Associates. She is one of the leading Passive House consultants in the country. Lois is the Passive House consultant on the world’s tallest and largest Passive House for Cornell’s new technical campus on Roosevelt Island. 

This 26-Story High-Rise Will Be The Biggest Passive Building In The World

We are excited to share our latest video focusing on the ZIP Skylight and ZIP Exterior Shade System. For more information on either product click read more below, or contact us today.

The ZIP Skylight shade is an industry breakthrough and a one of a kind shading solution. With the fabric locked in on either side, the skylight shade never sags all without any intermediate support bars or obstructions – even in very large openings. The ZIP Skylight shade can be used with either mesh or blackout fabrics. Read More

Interview with Tali Mejicovsky

During a recent presentation I gave at the Architectural and Engineering firm ARUP and leader in façade design, I had the pleasure to sit down with Tali Mejicovsky, a façade engineer to discuss the roll of building envelopes and exterior window shades.

NG: What does the Facade Team at Arup do? 

TM: Arup provides specialist advice on all aspects of building façades. Our aim is to assist our clients to realize their objectives for appearance, performance, durability, quality, cost and schedule. We seek to optimize façade solutions for our clients on every project. Our façade group is part of the worldwide Arup. We are a networked business based in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco and in 15 other international offices.

Our international team is over 150 strong. From this broad base we deploy our resources effectively to meet demands, whether they be a tight schedule or a requirement for specific areas of expertise.

Arup undertakes design work for architects, project managers, developers and subcontractors, and also has an extensive experience in building diagnostics and remediation for a wide range of building owners. Typically accounting for around 15% of a building’s construction cost – the neile as the structure – a façade is an important consideration for any project. Arup provides impartial advice to owners and managers to help them to manage the technical, commercial and program risk associated with façade and roof elements.

Our expertise encompasses an extensive range of materials and systems, including curtain wall consultancy, building physics assessment, daylight management and glare control, energy and building envelope performance optimization, forensics and remedial, microclimate weather analysis and parametric modeling. Arup’s design, technical and commercial expertise helps to achieve the key to the success of building projects down to the smallest detail.

 

Interview with Renato Borsato, CEO Model System Italia

In my many years in the industry I have met inspiring people and companies. At the top of my list is the man I met when I traveled to Treviso, Italy: Renato Borsato, the CEO of Model System Italia manufacturer of Exterior Window Shades. His company creates the most incredible Engineered Shading Solutions that I had ever encountered. Below is my interview with him that I conducted during one of my visits.

NG: What is the history of Model System?

RB: Model System is a multi-generational family business, founded in 1964 by my father Egidio Borsato and my uncle Leopoldo Borsato. My father has since past away, but my uncle still heads our company. My brother Stefano is the Engineering Manager and Leopoldo’s two sons Flavio and Roberto are very involved in the business. Flavio is the Production Manager, and Roberto is the Manager of Domestic Markets.

Last week we installed 3 aluminum Exterior Louver Rack Arm systems by Draper in New York City. These motorized exterior louvers are able to rotate in open or closed position. The client selected a clear anodized finish to match their exterior facade, however the Rack Arm comes in a number of standard finishes to match any preference.

 

We just installed manual solar shades at the newly opened Central Kitchen in Englewood Cliffs NJ.

Specifying on our custom line of interior solar shades and aluminum fascias (headboxes) matched to the mulions, we were able to provide a truly beautiful product for Central Kitchen.

 
Tensioned Exterior ZIP Shade: In the time of the Roman Colosseum, the clever Roman engineers devised a retractable awning system they called The Velarium. Constructed nearly 2000 years ago, this covering was a very effective engineered shading solution that protected the spectators from the unforgiving summer sun.