Ready for the summer with DUCO!
In recent years we have come to value the sun as an ally that supplies us with free energy. However, even your closest ally can sometimes be an uninvited guest! On summer days, the sun can give off too much heat, in transitional seasons the rising or setting sun can be a nuisance. Even when buildings are thoroughly insulated, the sun's warmth often brings discomfort.
Nowadays, airtight construction and good insulation are two construction industry concepts that we cannot imagine life without; that's definitely the case when we want to cut undesirable energy losses as far as possible. On the one hand, this means that the demand for heat is decreasing, while the need to cool buildings is increasing. During the warmer (summer) months in particular, indoor temperatures can soar.
Moreover, our cityscapes now reveal more and more façades built using large areas of glazing. If the sun is left to its own devices, that can have a pretty negative effect on thermal comfort in the building. And on top of that: good airtightness and insulation mean it's hard for the heat to escape, so that the energy costs for cooling the various rooms can mount up.
Sophisticated strategy of natural ventilation and solar shading systems
It's no superfluous luxury to set up a 'line of defence' to prevent the indoor climate from rapidly feeling uncomfortable in the warm rays of the sun. Armed with a sophisticated strategy of natural ventilation and solar shading systems, we can establish a healthy, comfortable and energy-efficient indoor climate in any building.
It's an open secret nowadays that using window ventilators for the supply of fresh air is often inadequate to cool buildings sufficiently. Nevertheless, the importance of effective ventilation nowadays should not be underestimated. - by means of controlled wall and window grilles or via continuous louvre systems - takes care of the coolness required during the hot summer months by a supply of high flow rates of fresh outside air. This free form of ventilation makes the use of energy-guzzling air conditioning systems superfluous in a natural way.
Did you know that a small, 1400W air conditioning unit will soon add 700kWh (or 133 euros at an electricity price of 0.19 euros per kWh) to your annual consumption if used for an average of 10 hours per day for 50 days? Source: Eandismagazine - June 2015
What's more, effective outdoor solar shading has a key role to play in the story as well. It can not only substantially reduce a building's cooling load (in combination with intensive (night) ventilation), outdoor solar shading also improves energy bills. And that means a value added for the building concerned.
Obviously, we don't need to opt for the maximum solar shading, but are best to strive for optimum sun control. It is therefore important when using solar shading, that an optimum balance is found. One that can combine the requirements for sufficient daylight and provide efficient protection from the sun’s rays. The balance between maximum privacy and maintaining views to the outside. The benefits of daylight while keeping the inside cool in the warm summer months.
DUCO's solutions enable you to control the sun
Ventilation and solar shading specialist DUCO has understood this message clearly ever since it was founded in 1991, and is therefore engaged in a constant, active search for innovative solutions that are functionally and aesthetically effective in both homes and non-residential buildings. DUCO's range offers a wealth of options.
By choosing an by DUCO, you do more than give your façade a unique touch thanks to the sleek, rectilinear design. In addition to retaining daylight, such a system ensures naturally and energy-efficiently that the sun's rays do not have the chance to heat up the interior directly.
The architectural versions offer a choice between horizontally and vertically installed solar shading systems. Horizontally installed solar shading systems keep the heat out at warmer times of the year (May-September), while allowing in the heat from the low sun during the colder months (October-April), resulting in the optimum energy gain. Vertically installed solar shading systems offer the maximum of privacy while maintaining the view to outside. This design also allows rooms to be darkened.
With DucoSlide, DUCO can offer an ingenious solar shading system with a complete range of sliding panels. The aesthetically refined, aluminium frame can be filled in as you please with different types of aluminium or wooden louvre blades, with or without perforation, for a fascinating interplay of light and shadow. DucoSun lends itself as a structural solution to provide a perfect result.
Your ultimate choice of solar shading system will depend on your available budget and the technical possibilities, and of course on your personal taste. However, DUCO always has a solution for every project. In short, with DUCO you are guaranteed to be ready for the warm (summer) months!
