High energy prices and inflation are becoming an increasing challenge. It is worth planning how we can take care of our budget in a realistic way. With the help of new technologies that allow us to control the consumption of electricity and heat at home.
Technology in the service of the environment
There are many ways to save energy, thus paying lower bills and protecting the environment. Innovative and efficient appliances play a key role. Energy-efficient household appliances or consumer electronics are a matter of course for many today. However, it is also worth paying attention to our windows, which are the main source of solar energy in the home. They are the ones that have the greatest impact on heat gain and loss during the various seasons of the year, as well as on letting natural sunlight into the rooms. Exterior roller shutters with intelligent control, can significantly reduce the costs associated with energy use, and thus offset the carbon footprint we produce. Thanks to the control panel, we can schedule the opening and closing of the guards so as to best manage the natural light and achieve the greatest thermal comfort. Using smart outdoor shades, in winter we can reduce thermal energy consumption by 10 to as much as 30%, and in summer we can lower indoor temperatures by 4°C to 7 °C during hot weather, while reducing the need to turn on fans or air conditioning. Experts say that we can lose up to 20 to 30% of heat through doors and windows. Therefore, in order to reduce energy bills, it is worth paying attention to the thermal insulation of our windows, in addition to smart shield management. The lower the heat transfer coefficient (Uw), given in W/m²K, the greater the insulating properties.
Exterior roller shutters with intelligent control
© Somfy
How to save on energy during the winter season?
In winter, household bills increase significantly. We are then forced not only to use artificial lighting for a longer time, but also heaters. By incorporating smart home solutions into our daily lives, we allow the latest technology to draw as much as possible from nature, reducing maintenance costs. The sun, which heats the window, becomes a source of natural energy. It can be called a free radiator. That's why it's important to manage outdoor shades in the right way. Automation ensures that the blinds will be in the optimal position at the right time, regardless of the weather, even when we are not at home. Thanks to a special program, the shades will open automatically during the day to take advantage of the sun's free heat and warm the house. They will then close at dusk to keep the heat flowing in. This can reduce 10 to 30% of the cost of heating energy consumption.
Automatic management of roller shutters will save energy
© Somfy
How to save on energy in summer?
In summer, on the other hand, energy consumption is conditioned by, among other things, the use of air conditioning, fans or intensive lighting of terraces and gardens. During this period, we can also take care of energy efficiency with the help of intelligent controls for blinds. Windows that are not equipped with sun protection heat the interior of the apartment like a radiator that is constantly on. According to a 2021 study by building scientists at the University of Oregon, by using a so-called passive cooling strategy in the summer, part of which includes the proper use of shades, we can reduce the air conditioning load by up to 80%.
During the day, the sun heats the room
© Somfy
We don't always know when it is the best time to close all the covers. We also often don't have the time to think about it and keep track of it. The solution to this problem is a roller shutter drive with a built-in solar panel along with a sunlight sensor, which, thanks to the control panel, will automatically open or close the shutter depending on the weather, so that the house is cool and pleasant in the summer. Thanks to the automation of external shades, we can lower the indoor temperature from 4°C to 7 °C during hot weather without too much effort and thus reduce the need for energy-intensive cooling devices. The solar motorized roller shutter adapts to all types and sizes of windows - from the smallest ones to bay windows up to 4 m high. Installation of such a solution does not require interference with the building structure or interior design - for its operation we do not need to connect power cables.
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Compiled by:KATARZYNA SZOSTAK
