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Republic of the Philippines

EULOGIO AMANG RODRIGUEZ


INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Nagtahan, Sampaloc, Manila

Shading Devices

Submitted By:
Lopez, Vincent R.
II A BS Architecture
Submitted To:
Ar. Rolan Alamillo
Professor
Date:
February 12, 2014

1.) Trees and shrubs

Trees offer excellent natural shade. They throw


shade over the walls and roof. They also will shade
driveways, sidewalks and patios that can bounce heat to
the building. Since big trees give more shade than little
ones, devise a site plan that preserves as many existing
trees as possible. Then plant new trees immediately after
construction.
Deciduous trees are best for south yards, because their canopies are broad and
dense. When the leaves fall in the winter, many deciduous trees allow solar heat to
reach the building. Evergreens can work well for north and northwest yards.
The closer a tree is to the building, the more hours of shade it will give. To be
effective, trees should be planted between 5 and 20 feet from the building.
Shrubs offer less shading, but they have several other advantages. They usually
cost less, reach mature size more quickly and require less space. Shrubs can shade
walls and windows without blocking roof-mounted solar panels.
2.) Trellises
Trellises are permanent structures that partially
shade the outside of a building. Clinging vines growing
over the trellis add more shade and evaporative cooling.
A special trellis to shade air conditioners, heat pumps
and evaporative coolers improves the equipment's
performance.
Fast growing vines create shade quickly, while trees can take years to provide
useful shade. Deciduous vines, such as grape and Wisteria lose their leaves in winter
allowing the sun's heat to strike the building.

3.) Shade Screens


Outside shade screens prevent sun from entering
a window. Put these only on windows exposed to direct
sunlight. These devices are often called "sun screens,"
"shade cloths" or "solar shields." The screens, made
from aluminum or plastic, are lightweight, durable and
easy to install. Unlike insect screens, shade screens are
specially made to block a certain amount of the sun's
energy, usually between 50 and 90 percent of the energy striking the outside of the
window. While you can see through a shade screen, the view is obscured.
4.) Awnings
Awnings work like the visors on baseball caps by blocking
high-angle sunlight. On buildings, awnings can cover individual
windows or sections of outside walls. They are most effective on the
south side of the building.
Awnings come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors to
match many building designs. Some awnings stay in a fixed
position. Others can be rolled up in the winter to allow low-angle
sun to reach the building.
Awnings have the disadvantage of blocking the view from the top half of the
window.
5.) Overhangs
As with rain on the building envelope, properly sized
roof overhangs can minimize the exposure to solar radiation
and radiation-related problems such as fading of furniture and
carpeting.

Overhangs block the high-angle, summer sun, but allow the lower winter sun to
strike the building. As shading devices, overhangs have several limitations. For example,
a roof overhang on a two story house will not shade a first story window. Nor will
overhangs provide relief for east and west windows. Fixed overhangs will always be a
compromise, since the sun's angle is the same in spring and autumn.
6.) Light Shelves
A light shelf is an architectural element that allows daylight to penetrate deep into
a building. This horizontal light-reflecting overhang is placed above eye-level and has a
high-reflectance upper surface. This surface is then used to reflect daylight onto the
ceiling and deeper into a space.
Light shelves are typically used in high-rise
and low-rise office buildings, as well as institutional
buildings. This design is generally used on the
equator-facing side of the building, which is where
maximum sunlight is found, and as a result is most
effective.
Not only do light shelves allow light to penetrate through the building, they are
also designed to shade near the windows, due to the overhang of the shelf, and help
reduce window glare.
7.) Louvers
A

louver

is

a window

blind or shutter

with

horizontal slats that are angled to admit light and air, but to
keep out rain, direct sunshine, and noise. The angle of the
slats may be adjustable, usually in blinds and windows, or
fixed. Fixed mirrored louver systems can limit glare and of
redirect diffuse light. Such louvers may be integrated in
between two panes of double glazing.

8.) Window Shutters

Shutters are movable wooden or metal coverings that,


when closed, keep sunlight out. Shutters are either solid or slatted
with fixed or adjustable slats. Besides reducing heat gain, they can
provide privacy and security. Some shutters help insulate windows
when it is cold outside.
9.) Venetian Blinds
Venetian blinds contain many individual blinds, called
slats. These slats can be adjusted to let in some light and air while
reflecting the sun's heat. Some newer blinds are coated with
reflective finishes. To be effective, the reflective surfaces must
face the outdoors.
10.) Draperies and Curtains
Tightly woven, light-colored, opaque fabrics reflect more of
the sun's rays than they let through. The tighter the curtain is
against the wall around the window, the better it will prevent heat
gain. Two layers of draperies improve the effectiveness of the
draperies' insulation when it is either hot or cold outside.

References:
http://oikos.com/esb/34/shading.html
http://www.wbdg.org/resources/suncontrol.php
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/landscapeaircooling#.Uvn0hmKSwrc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louver
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architectural_light_shelf

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