Conference Paper

Proceedings of eSim 2024: 13th Conference of IBPSA-Canada

Energy Saving Potential of Internal Shading Devices: a Comparative Analysis in Canadian Cold Climate Zones

Aditya Chhetri, Lexuan Zhong
University of Alberta

Abstract: Windows are the weakest insulating part of a building envelope. Internal shading attachments such as roller shades, cellular shades, and Venetian blinds can improve the thermal performance of windows by altering their thermal transmittance and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. Most current studies focus on the deployment of shading attachments in cooling-dominated zones, with a view to reducing unwanted solar gains and glare. In this study, the thermal performance of 4 different internal shading attachments: (1) Blackout Roller Shades, (2) Roller Shades with 3% openness, (3) Roller Shades with 10% openness, and (4) cellular shades were studied in 5 different cold climate zones. It was found that Blackout Roller shades outperform other shading devices in terms of annual cooling load reduction, with a 70% reduction in sensible cooling energy compared to the unshaded condition. On the other hand, cellular shades perform the best in terms of heating load reduction, resulting in a 55% reduction in heating loads compared to unshaded positions. Blackout Roller Shades, Cellular Shades and Roller Shades with 3% openness have similar annual total energy performance. This study evaluates the thermal characteristics and energy consumption associated with different types of shading devices to inform building design and operation practices that enhance energy efficiency and occupant comfort.
Keywords: Sustainability, Building Energy Efficiency, Automated Shading, EnergyPlus, Energy Savings
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