Window Blinds
Window treatments (blinds)
According to the manual of “extreme makeover edition,” window blinds have been described as a screen for a window especially made of a roll of cloth, plastic, wood or metal that is fixed at the top of the window and pulled down. There are various types of window blinds that include; wood blinds, faux blinds, vinyl blinds, aluminum blinds, fabrics blinds, vertical blinds and blinds motorization. An exceptional example of a of window blind, is the automobile blind which is fitted rear and rear side windows of a car in order to protect passengers and the car itself from direct sunlight.
This essay is based on window treatment by use of blinds; the main objective is to identify the impact of window blinds, both environmentally and the socially, for this study the environmental impact will be the most highlighted since it is deemed as very important. The study will also spell out the measuring criteria and method for measuring the impacts of window blinds.
Social impact of window blinds
Window blinds have been designed in a manner so as to practically and beautifully satisfy customers’ needs. One of the key social factors of which window blinds are mostly sort after is to increase home value. They have been designed in an eloquent manner with beautiful designs and since they are mainly meant to cover windows in offices or homes they help in beautifying such rooms as well as keeping direct sunlight out. For companies this can improve their brand image and reputation.
The custom made window blinds especially for offices are used for privacy control, for example when holding important meetings company managers prefer to roll down window blinds in order to have total privacy from the glare of other employees within the office.
Environmental impact of window blinds
According to French (2007, 12-24) window blinds are used as a cost-effective measures to save energy and cut down on utility bills while according to the United States department of energy, window blinds play a big role in energy conservation since they help in maintaining warmth in a room when the external temperatures are low and when the external temperatures are high they keeping the air inside cool.
There are three examples of window blinds that have low environmental impact with high energy conservation, these include; cellular shades which is a blind arranged in a honey comb fashion and the more cells there is in a blind the more energy efficient that blind can be. The other example is bamboo blinds, which are made from bamboo that is naturally renewable, and hemp shades that are made from hemp that’s a natural and durable raw material.
Window blinds that are made of tough cotton can act as noise proof, and hence they can also be used to reduce noise pollution coming from places such as clubs, that are noisy. In offices they are also used as insulators to prevent direct heat and sunlight from computers, while in homes they are also used to prevent furniture from direct light which reduces their quality.
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How to measure the impact
The impact of window blinds in energy conservation can be measured using the daylight-linked lighting control system such as automatic on/off and continuous dimming. The impact of the two types of photo-controlled blinds is evaluated for various configurations of manual and photo-controlled automatic venetian blinds. The performance indicators to be measured include lighting energy consumption and space illumination.
Method of measuring the impact
In an enclosed office space whose windows are directly exposed to the sunlight; the two types of photo-controlled blinds will be used. The method of measure is going to be based on the amount of energy that will be saved when the two blinds automatically adjust themselves depending n the sunlight intensity. When the sunlight intensity increases during the day the blinds will close for light control and at the same time the lightening power that was on in the room will go off, after the sunlight intensity reduces the drapes will open and also the dimming light will switch on. Using a set benchmark the effectiveness of the blinds will be measured in regards to energy saving i.e. The light that was saved when the window blinds were closed.
Conclusion
Previous experiments that have been conducted to measure the impact of window blinds show that under the clear sky and with blinds fully retracted, both lighting control were able to provide considerable lighting energy saving estimated 50% to 60% when compared to the lights being fully on during the same twelve-hour daytime interval.
This essay can thus conclude by asserting that installing window treatment by using blinds will benefit both the office and the house in terms of utility bills. And at the same time by using durable, renewable and natural blinds consumers will be participating in environmental conservation.
On the other hand it is evident that window blinds can help in reducing environmental impact by allowing natural light to com in while insulating against the sun’s heat.
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Work cited
Buying green from Supply Chain Experts
//Http.//www.ebnonline.com.ccc// / retrieved 6 February, 2011.
Environmental range of Services, Products and Solutions,
//Http.//www.enbitec.co.za.ccc/ / retrieved 6 February.
French Thomas (2007) “Venetian Blinds,” Thomas French and Sons Limited, England
