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Our world is warming up, and it’s only going to get warmer. Global warming presents an existential problem for our planet that might seem a long way off, but its effects are already being felt. Our elderly population is particularly vulnerable when it comes to heatwaves, something weather experts have warned we’re only going to see more of in the coming years. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has predicted that 15% of the 250,000 annual additional deaths due to climate change in the 2030s and 2040s will be due to heat-related stress among those over 75 years old.

To keep elderly residents comfortable in care homes, we of course turn to things like insulation and central heating to keep things warm in the winter and ventilation and air conditioning to keep things cool in the summer. However, these solutions are often expensive and bad for the environment. Attention has therefore turned to how we can manage the harmful effects of the sun yet harness the positive ones for the advantage of the building’s residents and their well-being. 

Using technology to connect and control shading to minimise so-called ‘solar gain’ from the sun, guarding against the often intense glare and warmth of its rays is an excellent way for residential homeowners to keep their vulnerable and elderly residents comfortable all year round and prevent overheating during the summer months, whilst also keeping energy costs low and reducing their overall carbon footprint.

Somfy’s intelligent approach to shading

Of course, the idea of utilising blinds and shutters to keep the sun out to keep things cool isn’t new, but Somfy’s intelligent approach to daylight management is different. According to a recent study, one of the biggest challenges when it came to preventing overheating using blinds and shutters, was influencing occupier behaviour. In order for blinds and shutters to be effective, they require the full participation of the occupants or staff of the care home, and in big facilities that’s not always possible. Some residents may have mobility issues that prevent them from closing the shutters, and staff aren’t always available to do it for them when the sun’s glare proves too harsh. Blinds and shutters can’t remain closed all day, as daylight is essential for our health and well-being, so a more flexible solution is needed that can react with the sun in real-time, or at least give residents and staff the option to control them remotely.

That’s where Somfy’s shading solutions come in. Our automated shading solution can be set to work on a predefined schedule or work dynamically in response to the sun’s glare. Residents can control their blinds remotely at the touch of a button or, if preferred, staff could remotely close all blinds and shutters on one side of the building, keeping it cool and protecting those inside from the glare and heat of the sun.

Applying Somfy’s solution in residential developments

Huize Royal in Scheveningen is a residential development in the Netherlands that provides assisted living for the elderly and also provides accommodation across four different houses; each dedicated to residents with differing needs, including people with dementia.

To ensure the comfort of residents year round, by avoiding overheating and maintaining coolness in the rooms, we delivered a Somfy animeo IP/IO solution, utilising wireless and plug-and-play technology to control the automated blinds.

The intuitive user interface, makes control, building management and technical support simple.

As and when required, system analysis is quick and easy with the added benefit that expert technical support can be provided at a distance from our local team in the Netherlands.

To learn more dynamic shading solutions, their benefits, and how we can help you incorporate them into your new building project, get in touch with the Somfy team today.

 

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