Legrand® Shading Systems Team Shares Best Practices for Automated Shading Systems
San Jose, CA
July 10, 2018
Daylighting and daylight harvesting have become common practices, especially in commercial office spaces. With the longer daylight hours in summer, we are reminded to make the most of natural sunlight instead of relying on electric lighting throughout the day. Daylight harvesting using lighting and shading technologies allows facilities to maximize natural light, increase occupant comfort, and create productive and healthy work environments.
The right balance of daylighting and daylight harvesting strategies have been shown to provide significant health benefits including increased productivity, improved mood, and regulated circadian rhythm. These benefits not only help the quality of the work environment for occupants, but also allow for additional energy savings with less use of artificial lighting.
Legrand Building Control Systems’ Shading Systems team has outlined best practices for facility managers to help them get the most out of their automated shading system:
Prioritize the best environments
Task-oriented spaces and work areas where glare is significant will see the most substantial benefits from shading and daylight harvesting. Occupant discomfort from heat or glare can be managed through proper energy management strategies and can improve spaces that face a high level of sunlight exposure. To prioritize, start with occupied spaces on higher floors experiencing strong sun exposure.
Shading and room configuration
Before installation, ensure the control plan is well understood by everyone included in the project. Simply installing shades and a system will not solve the problem. Rather, integrators and facility managers need to understand the specific uses of the space as well as the occupant concerns before the plan can be implemented. Documentation will help individuals understand why the system is programmed the way it is and allow for easier adjustments in the future.
Seek out motors and fabrics that are appropriate to the project. Additionally, darker fabrics do a better job at minimizing glare, while lighter fabrics will fill the room with more light.
Sustainability
Using natural light instead of electric light also leads to a much lower energy impact. Automated shading systems can be programmed to automatically adjust with the sun, especially during the summer. By lowering the shades during the day, facilities save on energy usage and cooling costs.
It’s important for facility managers to understand their space and their occupant needs before installing any daylight harvesting technologies and energy management strategies. Once the needs are clearly outlined, and a plan is put in place, facility managers and occupants can reap the benefits of natural light and occupant comfort during long hot summer days.
For more information on Legrand’s automated shading system offerings, please visit www.legrand.us/shading-systems.
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About Solarfective Products Limited
Solarfective, a Legrand group brand, specializes in the design and manufacturing of standard and custom shading systems. Established in 1980 and based in Toronto, Solarfective has provided one-of-a-kind shading solutions for commercial facilities around the world.
About Legrand and Legrand, North and Central America
Legrand is a global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for use in commercial, industrial, and residential markets makes it a benchmark for customers worldwide. Innovation for a steady flow of new products with high added value is a prime vector for growth, including, in particular, connected devices stemming from Legrand’s global Eliot (Electricity and IoT) program. Legrand reported sales of $6.2 billion (USD) in 2017. Legrand has a strong presence in North and Central America, with a portfolio of well-known market brands and product lines that includes AFCO Systems, C2G, Cablofil, Chief, Da-Lite, Electrorack, Finelite, Luxul, Middle Atlantic Products, Milestone AV, Nuvo, OCL, On-Q, Ortronics, Pass & Seymour, Pinnacle, Projecta, QMotion, Quiktron, Raritan, Sanus, Server Technology, Solarfective, Vaddio, Vantage, Wattstopper, and Wiremold. Legrand is listed on Euronext Paris and is a component stock of indexes including the CAC40, FTSE4Good, MSCI World, ASPI, Corporate Oekom Rating, and DJSI (ISIN code FR0010307819) www.legrand.us.
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Media Contact:
Mary Placido, Legrand Building Control Systems
415-218-3627
mary.placido@legrand.us