ES-SO: ‘Make solar shading compulsory’

Mandatory solar shading on new and renovated buildings is a must if climate change goals are to be met, according to experts.

The European Solar Shading Organisation (ES-SO) says automated solar shading holds the key to achieving decarbonisation goals and has warned that other cooling solutions, such as air-conditioning, will only add to global warming.

As climate change causes more frequent hot weather events, it is likely the demand for cooling products which produce the greenhouse gases responsible for global warning, such as air-conditioning, will intensify too. Worryingly, a 2018 report from the International Energy Agency warned air-conditioning is already the fastest growing energy use in buildings globally.

A report published by the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government predicted the installation of air conditioning systems in homes in England could increase by between 6% (for the coldest parts of England), and 56% (for the warmest parts) by 2050.

Now, shading experts are calling for the installation of solar shading to be favoured over air-conditioning as a means of preventing overheating in new and renovated buildings. In England, Scotland and Wales there are proposals to introduce a new Overheating Building Regulation, which will require designers to prove new domestic buildings will not overheat. If there is a risk of overheating, then the installation of external shutters and blinds is one of the methods recommended to reduce this risk.

ES-SO says the evidence is clear that solar shading can help combat overheating issues without adding to climate change. A recent Guidehouse study – which compared air-conditioning and solar shading as overheating solutions – found automated solar shading could reduce the energy use of buildings by up to 60 % by 2050.

Currently, less than 50% of the buildings in the European Union are equipped with solar shading devices, of which most are not automated.

As a result, ES-SO has listed three priorities it says should be implemented as soon as possible. These relate to the expected re-draft of the Energy Performance Building Declaration (EPBD) within the EU Commission which is the body’s main legislative instrument that aims to improve energy efficiency within all buildings. EU legislation related to improvements in energy efficiency is largely replicated in the UK.

Priority 1

Solar shading becomes mandatory and is defined as a passive measure for energy efficiency in the EPBD. For new and renovated buildings solar shading must always be applied first, by respecting the energy efficiency first principle. Only as a last resort should air conditioning be considered if there is still a need to tackle overheating.

Priority 2

Solar shading should be included in article 2, point 3 of the EPBD as a technical building system, similar to how cooling and heating systems are included. That way the energy saving benefits they provide will be analysed and considered earlier in the building design or refurbishment process.

Priority 3

As a result of priority 2, automated solar shading will be fully recognised as a mandatory Building Automation and Control System in article 8 of the EPBD. The control system enables the optimised operation of solar shading devices and will guarantee reductions in space cooling and heating demand.

The full report from ES-SO can be read here.