Hunter Douglas Contract: Solar Control

One of the simplest means of reducing energy usage is the use of solar shading, a general term that encompasses roller shades, venetian blinds, brise soleil, and louvers—horizontal or vertical. Cutting down on the amount of direct sunlight that enters a building at the exterior glass wall minimizes the need for air conditioning; these installations also allow for enough ambient light to eliminate the need for artificial lighting throughout the day. One company focused on solar shading products is Hunter Douglas Contract, whose Solar Control division helps architects and building owners develop exterior wall solutions. In the case of the LOTT Clean Water Alliance Regional Services Center, shown here, architects Miller Hull Partnership incorporated MakroBlindsTM louvered shades by Hunter Douglas's Nysan Solar Control on the south and west elevations to control direct sunlight.

The facility is located in Olympia, Washington, yet it treats wastewater for the 85,000 residents of Lacey, Olympia, Turnwater, and Thurston counties—hence LOTT. Miller Hull renovated the existing administrative and laboratory building and added a four-story building that houses offices, emergency operations, and an education center. Pictured here is the new building's west-facing elevation—the motorized MakroBlinds consist of wide exterior shades (6 inches/15mm) and interior shades about half as wide.

According to Hunter Douglas Contract, the system "tracks the sun and has scheduling capabilities … sun sensors integrated into the product … manage daylight and solar heat gain. When the sunlight goes below a certain level, the blinds are retracted to provide greater visibility." Function aside, Miller Hull's treatment of the louvers enables them to be an aesthetically pleasing part of the greater whole, much like the solar control is just one part of a larger striving for sustainability that includes a green roof, reusing timbers from an old warehouse, and using reclaimed water for wetlands restoration.