A Living Legacy In Window Coverings
For years Verosol has been developing ground-breaking window coverings that deliver best-in-class quality with energy saving potential. In a new collaboration with Curtin University, Verosol has tested the true impact of its products in a ‘living lab’ situation.
Located at Curtin University in Perth, the Legacy Living Lab (L3) is a place of innovation and research, where industry and academia meet to develop environmentally progressive ideas and present them to the broader community.
The project, which was conceived by Dr Roberto Minunno of the Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute with PhD candidate Timothy O’Grady and Professor Greg Morrison, was created as a building and a concept focused on the circular economy of buildings; that is, the economic concept of designing out waste from the construction process by recycling or re-using as much of it as possible.
Having put the concept of circular economy into action, L3 has moved to a new phase. It has become a meeting place for industry and researchers; a place for these key players to conduct prototyping and research projects and showcase what is possible to the general public. This is where Verosol, a global leader in window covering solutions and an L3 industry partner, comes in.
“When we designed the building, we didn’t think much about orientation because the building is movable. We didn’t consider things like passive design because they weren’t in the scope of our project. But we realised pretty soon that it was too bright inside for anybody to work comfortably,” says Minunno.
To address the problem, Verosol supplied L3 with seven Ambience Motorised Roller Blinds featuring 203 SilverScreen Performance in Dark Grey. In addition, sun sensors were installed and an automation system was employed to allow the blinds to be controlled through an app.
As Minunno explains, these products solve the immediate problems of glare and heat but also, more importantly, presented a perfect opportunity to quantify their potential benefits in terms of glare reduction, cost savings, and carbon dioxide emission cuts.
The data collection process is ongoing, however previous research by Verosol suggests the installation of the blinds will be shown to have had significant effects.
According to Verosol, installation of products featuring 203 SilverScreen Performance typically results in a 75 per cent reduction in heat gain, which in terms of volume, can be up to 11,374 kWh per annum.
By far the biggest part of the potential energy saving is due to the g-value (SHGC) improvement. Although the U-value is improved by 2.9 W/m²K, the climate in Perth is mild.
In addition, the total light transmission of the fenestration is four per cent. In other words, while maintaining good views outward, SilverScreen Performance 203 Dark Grey provides a good level of glare control.
Minunno and his colleagues continue their work at L3, and Versosol is proud to play a role in ensuring Australia has an energyefficient, low carbon future.
The Legacy Living Lab at Curtin University, Perth, with Verosol’s Ambience Motorised Roller Blinds featuring 203 SilverScreen Performance in Dark Grey.