Analysis and Comparison of the Thermal Retention Properties of Shading Devices in the Real-World and Dynamic Thermal Models within the UK Built Environment

The built environment accounts for 40% of the UK’s carbon footprint, with half of this involving building operations. Additionally, as approximately 50% of the building energy is linked to heating applications, managing thermal loss has become critical in reducing the energy load of buildings. One of the methods to reduce heat loss in buildings is utilising shaded devices. However, most research into the effectiveness of utilising window coverings to reduce heat loss has been carried out in experimental situations within a controlled laboratory, which does not reflect real-life conditions. To investigate the gap in knowledge in the UK around the use of shading devices, a survey study was conducted with the participation of UK building industry professionals. The results highlighted the lack of awareness of the impact shading devices can have on thermal retention. To assess the effects of shading devices on thermal retention, two real-world case studies were conducted using internal cellular blinds. These studies illustrated the importance of correct installation methods when using shading devices, as well as the effectiveness of sealed blinds in reducing heat loss through windows. A further survey was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of BEMS software packages in modelling shading devices amongst UK building energy modellers which indicated that the software databases had insufficient information on shading devices. To further assess the capability of BEMS software packages illustrating the impact of shading devices, the results from the case study were compared with dynamic thermal model results generated by four software packages. The real-world study demonstrated a positive trend between the correct use of shading devices and the reduction of key energy performance indicators, such as heat loss and heating energy consumption. By comparing this to the results from the simulations, inefficiencies in the software were exposed specifically when assessing the total heating consumption.