A study carried out by the Australian government suggests that direct sunlight is able to create as much heat as a single bar radiator over the area of a square meter. This is presents home owners with a serious challenge: Heat regulation. Effective shading is a known solution to this problem as it is able to significantly reduce summer temperatures and improve comfort. Though fixed shading is usually effective, automated systems with centralized controls are fast becoming the option of choice because they are more convenient and come with added functionality. Here are some of the reasons centralized shading systems are so popular.
Ease of use
Manual shade controls can be quite bothersome. Many times the strings or bars get caught up and break rather quickly. A centralized shading control system eliminates all this as the controls are automated. The shades can be raised or lowered as required at the touch of a button. Such shading systems give the home owner greater control over natural lighting fixtures such as skylights that are normally too hard to reach.
Security
When combined with other home control systems such as automated lighting, centralized shading plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of security. In the home owner’s absence, shade control systems such as those designed at Lutron (lutronshadesandlighting.com) can be programmed to mimic daily routines. The shades and lights can automatically interact in a way that would convince any potential burglar that someone’s home.
Savings
Once sunlight is allowed through the windows, it vastly increases the strain on the air conditioning system which results in increased utility bills. Automated shading systems can respond to the amount of light entering the room, lowering the blinds when the sun is at its peak and opening them in the mornings and afternoons to let more light into the room. This method greatly reduces the cumulative cost of heating and air conditioning.