Exterior Window Shades are at least three times more effective at reducing solar heat gain then interior shades. That is why all across Europe in both northern and southern climates, we see Architects specifying and installing Exterior Shading Solutions for residential and commercial projects.
The news about Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island in New York City has been very exciting to those who follow Passive House trends. Handel Architects have designed the tallest Passive House building in the world. This high-rise dormitory building with its energy efficiency will change the way buildings are constructed though out the USA.
Closer to my neck of the woods in Ramsey, New Jersey is a smaller but still significant project of a Passive House being built by Darren Macri. Darren is a local builder specializing in Passive House technology and systems. We discussed a few things about the Passive House concepts and how Exterior Solar Shades are a part of the solution to energy efficiencies.
Q: Where did the concept of Passive Homes come from?
A: Going back thousands of years native people have known the benefits of the low winter sun and heating their south facing homes. The Sinagua people of Arizona would only build in caves that face south but had long over hangs to block the high summer sun – the first exterior shading device!!! Ideas of making our modern homes more efficient and more comfortable actually began in the 1970’s in North America. But when oil prices dropped in 1985 the efficient home movement in North America died. In Germany a physicist named Dr. Wolfgang Feist put together the best ideas that we left behind. He reworked those ideas to create one cohesive approach and then as Germans like to do – he put metrics to it and built a home energy modeling software. Now it was predictable and measurable. He wanted to find the sweet spot of where you can make the house more efficient enough to eliminate the large central HVAC units. Then you can take that saving and put it towards the windows and insulation. He built the first Passive House in Darmstadt Germany in 1999.
Just north of the magical city of Venice is the town of Treviso. Treviso is a charming place of meandering waterways and canals and the home of the clothing empire Benetton. It is also the home of Model System Italia (MSI).MSI is a multi-generational family business, founded in 1964. The company’s first product back then was the Venetian Blind. Today MSI is an exterior window shade manufacturer.
Created with the vision and creativity of Miguel Angel Aragones, this unique tourist destination features an 83-suite five-star hotel, as well as 106 private residences and 18 estates. This one-of-a-kind architectural complex is located in San Jose del Cabo, an enclave formed by desert and sea.
Model System Italia’s cable guided exterior solar shades are featured throughout the project. These exterior shades are the FM41 style exterior solar shade and provide protection from the intense tropical sun. Over 85% of solar heat gain is prevented from entering.
Exterior motorized shades provide the ultimate solution where heat and glare control are needed while preserving the view of the outside world. Europe has a long history of using exterior solar shades to reduce operating costs for owners while enhancing tenant comfort. Many European countries are now mandating exterior shading on all new building projects. The US is rapidly embracing this concept and exterior solar shading will become a common place solution set for most architects and designers.
The challenge of selecting a control system design is often hampered by a lack of knowledge and manufacturers who do not fully understand the limitations of the equipment they are proposing. There is a fundamental difference between the actual equipment selected and how it is configured and laid out. In short, the equipment is not the control system. It is just one element in the overall design.
Exterior Window Shades are retractable blinds or shades that are mounted on the outside of the glass. They are in their infancy in the United States. Architects are now being introduced to the innovative European systems that provide superior performance for the reduction of solar heat gain. All across the European continent (including northern climates), exterior window shades are seen on the most sustainable buildings.
Kinetic architecture is a concept through which buildings are designed to allow parts of the structure to move, without reducing overall structural integrity. Kinetic Architecture is becoming a force in sustainable building across the globe and a significant contributor to a growing trend in Exterior Window Shades. 
Exterior window shades are gaining popularity because of their superior performance in reducing solar heat gain. The graphic below tells it all. A space with no shades allows 80 percent solar heat gain; an interior shading solution allows more than 50 percent solar heat gain, and an exterior window shade blocks between 80 and 90 percent.
{{cta(‘7fc41619-393a-44f3-bfac-65f105d8a90e’,’justifycenter’)}}
Solar Heat Gain Performance of an Exterior Shading Solution
Our latest interview is featured in the newest edition of WF Vision Magazine for May/June 2015. In this issue, we focused on integration and included an interview called “The Importance of Integration”with Gianni Stramandinoli. Below you will find the article but if you have the physical or digital copy check it out on pages 22-23.
It’s hard not to be aware of the revolution in sustainable architecture and design. From the sudden surge in popularity in solar energy, to passive homes and sustainable cities, we are living, working and experiencing a massive global shift in how mankind interacts with the earth. Hopefully, this effort will be enough to prevent an environmental disaster.
