Here's what you need to know about saving energy with solar shading

Blinds were fundamentally designed to create shady, cool spots in your garden and/or keep the temperature at home pleasant and comfortable on hot summer days. But did you know that blinds can also help you to save energy? In summer as well as in winter? We’ll tell you all about it in this blog.

If you use them smartly, you might be able to save considerably on your energy bill with your blinds. Blinds and roller shutters are the best way to keep the heat outside or inside on days when the temperatures are rising or falling, as they act as a physical barrier between your windows and sunlight. To sum it up:

• Blinds maintain a comfortable temperature in your home, both in summer and winter;
• As a result, you won't have to turn on your energy-guzzling air conditioner much, if at all, in summer;
• Plus, your heating does not have to work as hard to heat your home in winter.

Energy saving and solar shading: what do I need to consider?

Although we often assume that solar blinds will save us some money on our energy bill, savings are actually dependent on various circumstances. Whether and how much energy blinds can save you, depends on factors such as the type of home, the geographical situation and applied insulation.

It is good to know that external blinds are better at blocking heat than blinds that are mounted on the inside and that strategic use of your blinds can also make a difference. For instance, open windows on the shady side of your house to let cool air in, while you close blinds on the sunny side to prevent overheating.

Manual versus automated blinds: does it make a difference?

It is also important to consider that you can save even more energy with automated blinds than with manually operated blinds. Why? If you forget to raise or lower your blinds in time, for instance because you have multiple awnings or roller shutters and you just don’t get around to it, your house will heat up or cool down in no time. This can have a negative impact on your energy bill.

Unlike manually operated blinds, automated blinds are very easy to operate and from wherever in or around your home you are. You can even raise or lower all your blinds at the same time. With motorised blinds, this task is so effortless that it is much less likely to slip through.

Climate sensors: letting your blinds lower automatically when the sun shines brightly

If you decided to go for automated blinds, you might consider going one step further. If you install climate sensors on your blinds, you can save even more energy.

How? It is simple: climate sensors detect changes in the weather, after which your blinds automatically open, close, raise or lower. Even when you're not at home.

A sunlight sensor, for instance, responds to the strength of sunlight. A temperature sensor measures the temperature in or around your home. If it gets too hot or if the sun suddenly shines very bright, or if the sun carefully shows itself on a winter's day, your blinds can open, close or lower themselves. If you want, you can even expand this installation with sensors that react to high winds or rain.

Technical explanation: how a sun sensor works

To give you an idea of how a sun sensor works, read the technical explanation below.

The sun sensor sends a signal to the receiver in the motor, even before the sun reaches your window. Subsequently, all connected screens lower to a set position. An insulating space of still air is created between the window and the blinds, acting as a buffer. As a result, it stays considerably cooler for longer, making your home a pleasant and more comfortable place.

Saving in winter time: good to know

So while blinds keep the heat out in summer, they prevent heat loss in winter. On a sunny winter day, sun blinds maximise the temperature inside the house and prevent the warmth from escaping.

It is good to know that when it comes to insulation, roller shutters are the real champions. They offer the best insulation and are great at keeping heat inside (or outside) the home.

TaHoma and your smart home

All the advantages of blinds, and electric blinds in particular, are obvious. However, did you know that there are even more benefits when it comes to controlling appliances in and around your home?

For example, more and more people have a smart Somfy TaHoma switch installed in their homes. Somfy TaHoma links the control of your blinds, lighting and security products into one system. It allows you to control all those devices from one central point, which also provides energy savings and convenience.

Find out more about this topic in our other blogs.