Latest News
CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme
The first performance league table for the carbon reduction commitment was published on 8th November 2011. Those companies, local authorities and government offices (such as the taxman HMRC) at the bottom will find it difficult to justify their “green credentials”.
To improve ranking for next year energy saving strategies should already be in place but simple strategies can give easy energy wins. Shading can provide zero cost energy savings by changing the way we use our existing blinds and shutters. To go further installing the most energy efficient shading can reduce total energy costs by as much as 15%
Efficient shading is the energy strategy that is often overlooked. The best energy strategies are those that reduce the need for it. Keeping heat out in the summer and keeping it in when it is cold is obvious but with ample supplies of cheap energy we have got used to using energy to solve the problem rather than stopping it happening.
We insulate our lofts and walls but the windows are the part that we tend to still solve with cure rather than prevention. Shading is the insulation of the transparent parts of your building.
The simplest savings can be achieved with behavioural change zero cost and up to 10% energy saving. A shading strategy is part of that “Turn off the lights – close the blinds” in its simplest form. Follow the link to adopting our industry best practice for your existing buildings that will make savings for you.
For longer term strategy or if you are considering refurbishment using the most efficient shading will not only reduce your carbon footprint but the capital cost can be lower than energy consuming alternatives. Energy savings in use are then a bonus.
Our energy advice notes show all of the elements to consider but for advice on the issues to consider follow to these links
energy efficient shading topics
Solar Shading and Intelligent Facades Conference
Hallmark Blinds supported the joint BRE/BBSA conference that was held on 29th September 2011
The presentations were recorded and are currently being edited and we will shortly be providing an on-line link to them
In today's high-tech, heavily insulated buildings flexible, effective solar shading is more important than ever before. Soaring energy costs and the rising summertime temperatures in our cities make it essential to consider shading at the early design stage. Solar control needs to be considered as part of the building services package to ensure a comfortable, energy efficient internal environment.
Solar shading has an important role to play in the refurbishment of existing buildings, too. Today, older buildings are often required to house high-tech workplaces, with exacting glare requirements and energy intensive IT equipment. Retrofitting solar shading can control glare and overheating, without the need to resort to expensive, energy hungry air conditioning.
The Conference, jointly organised by BRE and the British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA), covered some of the important and complex issues that designers and consultants have to address, and described different approaches that can be taken to achieve the best solution.
The programme featured expert speakers from the UK and Continental Europe, and included:
- the latest design techniques; double facades, automated shading
- how to obtain independent design data for shading performance, including a demonstration of a free access database for designers and specifiers
- architectural integration, with case studies of facade designs and shading in highly insulated homes
- the regulatory context including the Building Regulations limits on solar overheating and European requirements
- solving the problems of overheating, excessive cooling costs, heat retention and glare.
Energy advice - why it is necessary to consider shading
Make It Safe Campaign: Child Safety
The BBSA has endorsed the use of child-safe blinds and safety devices for many years but in June 2009 at the BBSA AGM it launched a full campaign called ‘make it safe’ to promote blind cord safety and to highlight the options available to make your window blind safe. In December 2010 as part of this on-going campaign a video was made produced to visually show the precautions to take with young children follow the link below to view. In 2011 BBSA has been actively working with the CEN standards committee to improve the existing EN standard and introduce a test method for safety devices. Most of the proposals have been adopted by BBSA members before they are introduced towards the end of 2012.
As members of the British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA) Hallmark fully supports the BBSA’s ‘make it safe’ campaign’.Child safety is always of paramount concern and the BBSA is urging homeowners and building users where children are present, to ensure they consider reducing potential risks associated with looped blind operating cords.
To view the make it safe video follow the link http://www.makeitsafe.org.uk/video.php
Many of the options offered by BBSA members can be retrofitted to existing blinds so you do not have to wait until you replace a blind to improve it’s safety. To improve awareness and support the Make it Safe campaign AT HALLMARK WE WILL PROVIDE CLEATS AND GUIDANCE LEAFLETS FREE OF CHARGE AT OUR SHOWROOM WHETHER OR NOT WE SUPPLIED THE BLINDS.
Follow the links below for more information or for more specific advice please do not hesitate to contact our sales office.
Child safety: What are the recommendations for blinds fitted in areas used by children
Child safety: What are the current requirements of EN standards
Child Safety: What safety devices are there?
Child Safety: What is the future requirement likely to be?
Window Energy Ratings
To help the consumer an EU system for window ratings will be introduced next year. Please follow th link for more details
http://www.eurowindoor.org/uploads/media/EuroWindoor_Position_on_Window_Energy_rating_final.pdf
CIBSE Presentation: Retrofitting Solar Shading.
26th October 2009, CIBSE
Case Study: refurbishing a heritage site- Kings Cross Eastern Range- shading constraints
Energy Efficient Savings
Building Modelling used to show energy savings from efficient use of solar shading
The development by our trade associations of sophisticated computer modelling of building performance is now enabling us to demonstrate the effects of efficient shading more simply. On a typical building model it shows that effective solar shading can recover the cost of installing the blinds in just over two years compared to the energy running costs of an air-conditioned building without shading. The savings are substantial and that does not allow for the saving on the capital expenditure for the air-conditioning plant in the first place.
As energy costs continue to rise the contribution that effective shading can make to reducing them is probably far more than you would imagine.
Follow the link below to our index of discussion topics on issues and solutions
Energy Efficient Solar shading
EU Standards and Building Regulations
EU Standards
After over 15 years of involvement by our trade association to ensure that they are realistic, most EU standards have now been approved. Compliance is not compulsory so implementation will gradually take effect as the standards become more recognised and companies can justify the cost of certifying compliance.
EU Directives and Building Regulations
Solar shading was introduced into Part L of the regulations for most commercial buildings in July 2004 to meet the UK governments’ commitment to the Kyoto accord. Although the initial requirements seemed to have been introduced rather rapidly revisions introduced in 2006 allow for more accurate calculation methods that eliminate many of the anomalies of the original proposals.
The need for solar shading is also included in the SAP Code calculations for energy efficiency of domestic new buildings that were introduced in 2006.
Awkward shapes?
European Standards
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