Check out our recent posts on shading ideas

Designing motorized rolling window treatment pockets

My mission is to demistify the details of motorized shading systems. To make the make the complicated, simple to understand and execute for your project.  In this writing we will discuss the options for the shade placement. Rolling shades come in 4 opacities; sheer, semi sheer, semi-opaque and opaque. They can be inside or outside mounted on an opening. My most common work, involves putting a pocket in a ceiling, a soffit or otherwise hiding it from view. The shade then seems to come from nowhere and dissappears when not in use. This requires careful planning so as to hide the hardware. In a simple version, we use a wall mounted valance, usually aluminum 3" or 4" square, but it can also be made from a fabric or nice crown moulding. This is easiest with manual shades. but with motorized shades, we need to be mindful of the power and communication to the shade. 5 x 5 pocket enables us to hide our rolling shade and make the power connection from inside the pocket. This requires careful planning with the electrician and general contractor to get a grat finished. As a finish carpenter myself I understand the building process and how it is necessary to iintegrate our design to get a nice finished look. We can do it all, including various pocket sizes from 3 1/2 x 3 1/2, to 5 x 5 to 7 x 9 for dual shades and slightly larger for triple shades. This is a bug screen, a solar shade and room darkening shade in the same opening. I would say each home is slightly differnet and so the pockets need to be planned early, to make sure the design meets the look and feel desired, and gives the needed results, in terms of light control, beauty and function. We also work with client built pockets, and use flap and hanger hardware, to close the opening, so as to hide the roll. This is similar to a drape pocket in terms of hidding the shade. Sometimes we use side channel, when the design demands light or bug sontrol. To further complicate our job usually they want thses to be hidden. Fortunately, we have done this many times, and can be very helpful helping designing a system that has a clean and uncluttered look modern design seems to demand. Below is a motorized insect screen in a soffit.Call our office to discuss your needs, at 310 828 7998 and ask for Greg.

Motorized shades in sustainable design

AIA/CES Registered Provider Program Summary

Provider; Bay Screens and Shades

Program # techguyshades

Program; An Architect's Guide to SolarSmart Shading Systems

Length; 1 Hour

Credits; 1 HSW SD learning unit

Description

Motorized shading solutions create sustainable window designs with the correct hardware, fabrics and convenient controls to produce comfort and efficiency. We also discuss products and ideas to control glare and reduce heat from entering a space. This session will cover all aspects of what it takes to achieve these described outcomes with standard or sustainable and green window coverings.

Learning Objectives

• To understand the various ways that window coverings can improve the energy efficiencies of residential and commercial buildings.
• How to specify window coverings that improve solar reflectance, solar glare and enjoy the view.
• How to select the correct fabrics that reduce glare and heat from entering the space.
• At the end of this course participants will be able to explain and discuss light control solutions, the differences, benefits, details and costs with clients to create sustainable designs. Thus solving light control issues in the modern home in new construction and in remodels.

 

Presentation Format

This presentation is face ot face. The presenter will bring actual working models of various shading products, including fabrics, hardware and different motors and controls used today. Some will be hand held, but most will be motorized.

Space needed

I will need a table of approximately 4 x 8 to display the products and nearby power. I will provide power strips and extension cords. The audience will appreciate seating.

Target Audience

Architects, Interior Designers, and Specification Writers and other design professionals in the commercial, retail, residential, hospitality, healthcare, to name a few.

Facilitator Qualifications

Bay Screens and Shades serves the commercial and residential markets for over 20 years. The owner Greg Amato, is well known in the industry and is an expert in motorized rolling shade and insect screen design, fabrication and installation.

Cost

There is no cost to bring this program to your company or group meeting.

For more information:

Greg Amato
Bay Screens & Shades, Inc.
3225 Pico Blvd.
Santa Monica CA 90405
310-828-7998 phone
310-828-6545 fax
Bayscreens.net

 

Choosing Motorized Rolling Shades

 

 

Bay Screens and Shades offers the finest residential and commercial window coveringsin the marketplace, providing for almost unlimited flexibility in solar control.

 

Since 1990 when we sold our first motorized solar shade, we have continually led the industry in the development of new technology and products. Every one of our window shades are checked and tested before they leave the factory to make sure they meet the high quality standards for which we are known. And our Somfy or Lutron systems are the most sophisticated, yet versatile and user-friendly window shade control systems on the market.

 

Motorized Shades offer the ultimate in high-tech convenience in a functional shading system. The simplicity of shades with the versatility of motorized operation.

• Available in any size from 2' through 14' wide.
• Larger sizes are available using tube sizes to 5 or 11” if needed.
• Retract completely when not in use for an unobstructed view.
• Installation choices range from simple mounting brackets, to endcaps and fascia, to complete extruded pockets with bottom closure panels.
• Have compact, tubular gearmotors, or “Quiet Electronic Drives” located within each roller for smooth, reliable operation.
• A simple wall switch is included with each unit.

“Shades and Life” Everything you wanted to know about shades.

 

Rolling window shades reflect light and heat from the sun, reducing the amount of energy required to cool the building. Motorized window shades can automatically adjust to compensate for the changing shade requirements throughout the day. Rolling shades can contribute to LEED points and credits.

 

Solar Control. In addition, shades can reduce or eliminate uncomfortable glare for workers, while still allowing ambient sunlighting and view-through to the outside.

 

Environmentally Friendly. The construction of window shades has become friendlier to the environment as well by including PVC-free fabrics and lean manufacturing processes. Our supplier is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the nation’s foremost coalition of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.

 

Custom Shading

 

Custom Built. Each rolling shade product is built to order. Fabric, hardware and operating mechanisms are specified to satisfy functional and aesthetic criteria—Bay Screens and Shades builds each unit for an exacting fit.

 

The Most Operator Options. We offer the broadest variety of operator styles in the industry. Options include bead chain clutch, crank, spring roller, and motorized roller-operated shades.

 

Unmatched Fabric Choices. Our spectrum of fabric colors and styles is unmatched. Woven mesh fabrics offer protection from heat, glare and UV rays, while maintaining the view. Soft translucent textiles offer designer appeal. And our opaque fabrics eliminate all visible light. Combine them with a room darkening side channel system, and you will achieve total blackout. All fabrics are fire retardant.

 

 

Greg Amato 9-25-2011

Saving energy with shades

Day Light Harvesting

By Greg Amato for Bay Screens and Shades

Faced with the skyrocketing cost of energy and environmental concerns, builders, architects

and lighting specialists are increasingly turning to day lighting as a primary source of

illumination in mainstream construction. Day lighting will provide tremendous operating cost

reductions if properly integrated with an electrical lighting control system.

At the same time, proper day lighting can increase the comfort and productivity of a

building’s occupants. It provides superior quality light for a wide range of tasks in the

workplace. Windows, skylights and other clearstories used for daylight integration can also

improve ventilation, lower air conditioning costs, and provide workers with visual

stimulation. Exposure to both daily and seasonal cycles of natural daylight has also been

shown to positively affect both the mood and stress levels of occupants.

For successful daylight integration, certain principles need to be followed in terms of

optimum building placement: the location, design and selection of materials for fenestration

(windows, skylights, etc.) and electrical lighting design. In general, the earlier in the design

process of new buildings that day lighting issues are addressed, the more successful the

daylight harvesting project will be. To take full advantage of daylight integration, buildings

should have automated controls that either turn off or dim artificial lighting in response to the

available daylight in the space. This is traditionally called “daylight harvesting.”

Advantages of day light harvesting

Greater Health, Well-Being and Productivity

There is strong evidence that day lighting can improve the health, well-being and productivity

of occupants. Daylight generally has a high colour temperature, high colour rendition and is

rich in blue radiation. Both good colour identification and improved visibility are attributed to

these factors. People generally describe daylight as providing better visual clarity and colour

differentiation. One 2003 study of office workers in California confirmed that workers

exposed to daylight through a window with a view versus those with no window performed

10-25% better on mental functioning and memory recall tests. On the other hand, the study

also found that glare from windows was associated with poorer office worker performance.

Greater glare caused performance on three mental function tests to decrease by 15-21%.

Clearly, day lighting needs to be carefully planned to reap its benefits while avoiding the

pitfalls.

Increased Energy Savings

With lighting accounting for approximately 38% of all energy consumed in modern

buildings, daylight harvesting can significantly lower energy costs by providing illumination

while allowing electric lighting to be automatically dimmed or switched off. Daylight

harvesting also produces a lower cooling load than electric lighting for the same amount of

illumination, resulting in lower cooling costs. This assumes that the daylight integration will

be thoughtfully designed to avoid glare and overheating. In the end, to achieve high quality

lighting and produce energy savings, daylighting and electric lighting systems must be

designed together so they complement each other. Lighting controls are a major area of

integration for these two sources of illumination.

 

Call Greg Amato at Bay Screens and Shades for more information or an analysis or your building.

 

 See also; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_harvesting