The Shades Don't Need to be Down!

By Meredith Elbaum posted on Fri, 2009-08-07 10:42 , 829 reads, 2 comments

In open floor-plan office buildings once an interior shade is lowered it often remains down because no one has ownership of the shade.  Lowered shades limit views to the outdoors and available daylight and consequently increasing electric lighting loads.  Alternatively, though while expensive, mechanized interior shades can optimize daylight and views and alleviate the problem.  We can offset the The added cost of the mechanical shade can often be offset by not installing shades on the north facade where there are few hours they are needed and with long-term energy savings.

 

At National Grid's new office in Waltham, MA, Sasaki used the Ecotect software to show the client when interior shades would be required.  Despite the study demonstrating that there are very few hours during the year they would need to use the  shades on the north facade, National Grid decided against installing mechanized shades due to cost and installed shades on the north facade to accomodate people working in the early morning and late evening.  As a result most days a majority of shades are at least partially down regardless if they are needed.  The show below illustrates when shades are needed on the north facade.