Page 81 - Hong Kong Green School Guide
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3. Green School Guide - 3.3 Energy Saving
Hong Kong Green Building Council
79
3.3.3 Blinds, Curtains and Automatic Control
Applies to NS & ES
Benefits
• Reduce heat gain through windows by lowering the blinds / curtains, hence
lowering energy requirements for air conditioning;
• Improve thermal comfort near the window area;
• Reduce glare to occupants with the help of blinds and curtains controlled by
daylight sensor control; and
• Automatic control to prevent blinds / curtains from being shut when daylight
is sufficient for lighting indoor area.
Issues to Consider
a. Opportunities
• Schools can install automatic blinds / curtains to regulate daylight and heat
gain.
b. Solutions
• There are three types of automatic controls for blinds / curtains: timer control,
remote control and daylight sensor control. Schools can choose among
these automatic controls according to the function of the room. For example,
timer control for indoor sports hall; remote control for blinds /curtains at high
level, e.g. auditorium; daylight sensor control for classroom, library and other
common areas;
• Some blinds, for example those with reflective coating and semi-transparent
natural coating, have the ability to reflect solar heat (radiation) but still allow
a portion of daylight to penetrate;
• Some blinds have thermal insulation, created by separating the window air
space from the room air space with an insulating air pocket in honeycomb or
cellular structure built into the blinds; and
• The automatic blinds and curtains can be powered by renewable energy.
Cost Information
Schools can contact blinds suppliers for costs and options.
Useful Reference
(1) ENERGY STAR. (n.d.). Bring Your Green to Work with ENERGY STAR. Retrieved
1 June, 2012, from
