Let the Sunshine In — and Control It

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Flooding spaces with natural light is more popular than ever in architecture today. Not only does it reduce the need for artificial lighting (and therefore translates to energy savings), but it provides a connection to nature and the outdoors. The sun’s power is a double-edged sword, however, causing heat gain that may negate those energy savings. We take a look at six outstanding products — winners and finalists of the 2015 A+Awards — that can help buildings balance it all out to implement daylighting without overheating.

Bendheim: Lamberts Channel Glass Wall Systems
Lamberts Channel Glass diffuses light to reduce glare and solar heat gain. It offers six surface textures in regular, low iron, sandblasted, solar coated, or color-enameled glass, all of which also produce a pleasing outward glow when the sun goes down. For extra thermal performance, insulating materials can be inserted into the cavity of double-glazed units, while single-glazed systems can be specified with low-e coatings. Consider the Prismasolar surface texture, too: the ridged pattern is precisely chiseled to bend and thus project back out the steeper sunlight angles of summer, while admitting the flatter sunlight angles of winter.

Hunter Douglas Contract: Mermet GreenScreen Evolve
Available through Hunter Douglas Contract, this warp-knit shade fabric by Mermet blocks 97 to 99 percent UV light, but that’s not the only eco attribute: the textile is composed of post-industrial and post-consumer waste and is 100-percent recyclable after use. GreenScreen Evolve is offered with one- or three-percent openness. It comes in nine colorways.

View: View Dynamic Glass
View Dynamic Glass switches between four tint levels as needed. It can be programmed to intuitively tint under specific sunlight conditions or set schedules or controlled manually via apps, even on mobile devices. The magic is in the electrochromic ceramic coating inside the glass: a small electrical charge moves ions between the smart layers, changing the structure of the particles to tint the glass. Used during peak energy hours, the product can reduce annual energy consumption an average of 20 percent.

Zola Windows: Zola No Compromise
The first window to achieve both Passive House Institute U.S. and Passive House Institute Germany certification, ZNC features R-15 quad glazing or R-11 triple glazing, a Super Spacer TriSeal warm edge spacer, fully welded main seal for water tightness, Zola insulation, and optional integrated screen system. Its frame is constructed of powder-coated aluminum on the exterior and FSC-certified wood on the interior.

MechoSystems: EcoVeil
The EcoVeil Shadecloth Collection is a basket-weave pattern series with one-, three-, or five-percent openness. The fabrics, composed of 100-percent thermoplastic olefin, are Cradle to Cradle Certified: it can be reclaimed, recycled, and kept in a perpetual loop of continuous use. Eight sophisticated neutrals — seven for the five-percent version — are available for this 96-inch-wide textile.

CRL-U.S. Aluminum: Series HP3253 High Performance Triple Glaze Curtain Wall System
This triple-pane system boasts Dual Thermal Break Technology as well as a continuous thermal spacer to achieve U-Factors from 0.32 to 0.17, meeting stringent energy conservation requirements. With injection molded water deflectors and no exposed fasteners, it also presents a clean, streamlined appearance. Options are available for vertical butt glazing.