Solar shading describes a number of systems used to control the amount of heat and natural light that is admitted into a building.
As an integral part of the 'building envelope' in buildings with good energy performance, solar shading has evolved from a 'component' or add-on to being part and parcel of the natural light and solar management system.
Shading is a cost-effective way of delivering energy savings up to 60 times its CO2 footprint over a 20-year lifespan.
Installing and properly operating solar shading can save energy costs on cooling, heating and artificial lighting. The principle is that it maximises natural light, keeps full-colour rendering of transmitted light, reduces glare and filters daylight, which helps to reduce overheating.
Dynamic solar shading, which self-adjusts during the course of the day, can generate cooling energy savings of more than 36 % when averaged across all glazing types and climate conditions in Europe.
Hutchins, M. 2015, High performance dynamic shading solutions for energy efficiency and comfort in buildings, http://www.es-so.com/images/downloads/Downloads%20publications/ES-SO__15...
European solar shading organisation (ES-SO), Tools for the industry, http://www.es-so.com/about-esso/tools
European solar shading organisation (ES-SO), 2016, A New vision of solar shading, https://www.shadeit.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/ES-SO-A-new-vision-on-solar-shading.pdf
Carbon Trust, How to implement solar shading, https://www.carbontrust.com/media/19525/ctl065-how-to-implement-solar-shading.pdf
Andrews D. 2015, Using life cycle assessment to illustrate the benefits of blinds as passive and sustainable energy saving products in the domestic environment in the UK, https://www.shadeit.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/LCA-Paper-Dr-Andrews.pdf
Summary article: https://www.shadeit.org.uk/commercial/life-cycle-analysis/