The modern business world prioritizes sustainability and energy efficiency, and companies are constantly looking for new ways to protect the environment and lower their operating costs. One increasingly popular solution is the use of commercial window shrouds. These architectural elements serve two very different purposes: On the one hand, they enhance the curb appeal of a building, which can help make a business more successful. On the other hand, they also dramatically improve the energy efficiency of a structure.
Understanding Window Shrouds
Sunshades, or solar screens, are installed on the exterior of a building to control the amount of sunlight entering a space. They are most often found in commercial buildings with large glass facades, where countering solar heat gain is a prime concern. Unlike some window coverings, which are used to manage privacy and visibility, shrouds are utilitarian structures with a specific purpose: to block or redirect sunlight. By doing that, they help maintain a space at a comfortable temperature.
Energy Efficiency Benefits
Window shrouds provide one of the most effective ways of preventing solar heat gain during hot weather. By shading windows from direct sunlight, they allow a window to remain a window (i.e., a view and ventilation opening) without completely giving up on one of the basic functions of a wall: keeping stuff inside and bad stuff (e.g., heat, in this case) outside. "The dual functionality of the window and the window shroud is a powerful energy-saving device." It is also a powerful energy-saving device in the other direction: when window shrouds are not functioning in the shade, they're functioning in the sun, preventing a window from losing heat when it otherwise would.
Commercial window shrouds serve the dual purpose of blocking too much sunlight while still allowing enough light to penetrate the building. That and their energy reduction potential are the reasons why I focused on them as a design issue. You'll see in the next panels how the shrouds relate to daylighting—using natural light in a way that minimizes consequences to human health and the environment. The use of natural light is linked directly to energy use: the less artificial light required, the less energy used.
Business has access to an array of choices when it comes to the design, material, and colour of window shrouds. This allows window shrouds to fit right into the business’s architectural style, whether they opt for fixed or adjustable types. The choice can be so tailored and...
Design Flexibility
Integrating window shrouds into the design of commercial buildings is a good move—and one that pays off financially—as it offers substantial energy efficiency benefits. The passive devices, which project from the face of the building, do double duty. They not only help keep the interiors of commercial structures cool and well-lit, but they also provide insulation, improving the overall thermal performance of the building. Because they help in so many ways, window shrouds do not just pay back the investment amortized over the life of the building. They also contribute to the architectural vision of "modern" in modern commercial structures