Project OS: Maximising passive home cooling with smart building design
When Waregem’s S. Family made up their minds to build a home, they knew they had to incorporate climate and environment from the start. And that’s how they wound up with south-facing windows featuring B1100 Brustor ZIP screens in addition to their must-have solar panels and heat pump. These ZIP screens block up to 80% of radiant heat, helping cool temperatures indoors by a good seven to eight degrees. Â
The tale is as simple as it is brilliant: a preventive heating and cooling mindset steered the family straight to the clean aesthetic of built-in screens and clear of the somewhat stodgier surface-mounted ones. And those clean-cut lines even look a treat with the home’s rustic vibe.
Four years ago, B1100 ZIP screens with jet black aluminium rails (RAL 9005) won the family over because they matched the window frames. Charcoal-coloured fabric, used throughout the home, ties the look together.
Even the bedrooms sport this sun shading solution. The kids were already used to sleeping in pitch-dark rooms because their old home had blackout shutters. They went for ZIP screens with Sergé 600 Solar / Lunar Blockout fabric to ensure a good night's sleep in their newbuild. The ZIP rails keep the fabric perfectly flat and prevent even the tiniest sliver of sun from sneaking in. And that makes all the difference for little kids in the summer. Kids forget to sleep when the sun doesn’t set until 10 pm. In their minds, that’s just extra playtime...
But all it takes is a switch to lower the screens and lights out! Literally, it’s child’s play.
The owners decided on B1100 ZIP screens with Sergé 5% fibreglass fabric for the ground floor. These screens shade but aren’t blackout, which ensures plenty of natural light indoors. And nothing beats a home full of light. During summertime, the dining room screens are usually down in the morning. That keeps the home refreshingly cool. Lunch is a cosy affair without the heavy beatdown of full sun.
To prevent indoor temperatures from reaching the boiling point, the S. Family starts lowering their daytime screens in spring, when sustained sunlight lasts several hours.
‘We adore our Brustor screens! Professional advice, smooth installation, and the delivery was right on time. We loved being able to choose our own fabric. The bedrooms have blackout screens, and the living room still has a great garden view. The house stays cool, even on hot days.’ The family clearly has no regrets. ‘Sun shading solutions add to your building costs, but incorporating them from the start really pays off.’
The Mr and Mrs are still toying with the idea of having a B128 Pergola installed on their patio.
This low-maintenance shading solution offers serious benefits for this young, busy family. Cleaning just requires a brush, detergent, a splash of vinegar, and plenty of water. Read our post on how to make your awning look new after a good cleaning.
