The Control of Venetian Blinds: A Solution for Reduction of Energy Consumption Preserving Visual Comfort

Abstract

Glazing surfaces strongly affect the building energy balance considering heat losses, solar gains and daylighting. Appropriate operation of the screens is required to control the transmitted solar radiation, preventing internal overheating while assuring visual comfort. Consequently, in the building design phase, solar control systems have become crucial devices to achieve high energy standards. An operation based on well-defined control strategies can help to reduce cooling energy consumption and ensure appropriate levels of natural lighting. The present study aims at investigating the effect of smart screening strategies on the energy consumption of a test building designed in the Mediterranean climate. With the aim of automatically setting the inclination of venetian blind slats, the necessary equations are analytically found out and applied. Equations obtained are based on the position of the sun with respect to the wall orientation. In the case of a cloudy day or an unlit surface, empirical laws are determined to optimize the shielding. These are extrapolated through energy simulations conducted with the EnergyPlus software. Finally, using the same software, the actual benefits obtained by the method used are assessed, in terms of energy and CO2 emissions saved in a test environment.

Comparing different approaches to define shading control threshold via a new automatic building simulation platform

“…Focussing on shading systems, [3] analyses the impact of a solar radiation setpoint for controlling external venetian blinds, while studies on roller shadings can be found in [4]. Regarding activation logics, experiments on shading during occupancy are conducted in [5], while [6] studies the application of fuzzy logic shading and lighting controls, including mobile user applications, while some predictive controls are analysed in [7]. In [8], the shading activation focuses on the impact of visual comfort in terms of glare reduction and amount of daylighting, while energy consumption studies on a climatised building are found in [9].…”

Impact of Different Shading Devices on Daylight Performance and Visual Comfort of A Four Opening Sides' Reading Room In Rasht

“…Recent studies have highlighted the effect of blinds and louvers on improving comfort and energy performance [44][45][46]. Daniel Uribe et al [47] examined the impact of control strategies for moving curved perforated louvers to attain an acceptable level of visual comfort and minimize office space's total energy consumption in different climatic conditions.…”

Evaluation of Building Energy Savings Achievable with an Attached Bioclimatic Greenhouse: Parametric Analysis and Solar Gain Control Techniques

“…The main types are Venetian blinds, vertical slat blinds and roller blinds [24]. Venetian blinds are the most widely used shading devices due to their versatility, and their effectiveness depends on the width of the slats, the ratio of the length to the distance between the slats, the angle of inclination and the place of installation [26]. The setup of mobile solar shading can be adjusted using three types of control: manual, motorized and automated.…”