There are a number of ways in which you might secure the energy usage of your work building, and business as a whole. Alongside the standard advice of low-energy bulbs, paperless offices and good insulation, there are factors to bear in mind that will have a more significant impact on your long-term energy usage. As energy prices rise in the future due to peak oil and, quite possibly, energy insecurity and issues of supply, these will become more valuable. The brise soleil and glass louvres – which can be part of the initial building design or retro-fitted at a later date – will become more common sights as businesses try to reduce their energy consumption. In particular, external louvres can make the most of the sunlight that reaches your windows, whilst at the same time ensuring that it does not overheat the room. This would make for both an uncomfortable office environment and increased costs, as it entails the use of air conditioning.
The way each of these architectural features work is generally the same. In each case, they are structures – either fixed or movable – that regulate the sunlight levels reaching your windows. Especially in modern developments, the windows tend to be large and can cover most of the building’s exterior, so this is no trivial matter. The genius of the brise soleil and external louvres is that they do two things – making the most of existing sunlight but not allowing it to overheat the premises. They do this by the angling of the slats or other structures, which allows low-angle winter sun (or sun at the beginning and end of the day) through, but stops the high-angle summer and midday sun. Energy use and heat absorption may be further modified by having moving slats to customise the louvres to the climate conditions, and also by integrating PV (photovoltaic) cells into them to allow them to generate electricity whilst simultaneously lowering your power consumption.
The brise soleil and glass louvres are therefore important developments for both energy efficiency and security, and a good working environment. External louvres are one of a number of measures that can be adopted to lower the amount of energy you use, thereby decreasing both your energy budget and your environmental footprint. This makes for more sustainable businesses and greater corporate responsibility, as well as any intrinsic good.
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