Kensington Blinds explores the five key reasons why architects should specify exterior blinds.

Buildings in the UK need to adapt in order to accommodate an ever-changing world and climate. At COP29 in Baku, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the country’s new climate target: to reduce carbon emissions by 81 per cent by 2035. For this to happen, the entire value chain across building and planning sectors have a collective responsibility to explore, demand, and prioritise energy-efficient and sustainable solutions.

A solution that is used in mainland Europe, and is becoming increasingly popular in the UK, is exterior blinds. As the UK’s weather patterns mimic those European countries, it’s likely that buildings will need to adapt to the warmer weather in the same way. Exterior blinds can improve building performance in a number of ways. Leading provider, Kensington Blinds, shares five reasons why architects should consider shading solutions during the planning phase and prioritise them in the tendering phase.

1. Prevent overheating without air conditioning
Cooling is the fastest-growing use of energy in buildings, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The updated ‘Part O’ of the UK Building Regulations encourages the use of more sustainable shading solutions to regulate building temperatures, instead of systems like air conditioning. Exterior blinds reduce the need for these energy-expensive systems by preventing buildings from gaining heat.

Kensington Blinds uses solar glare reflective fabric to prevent heat from entering buildings, making them more efficient for keeping homes cool than interior blinds. The results are impressive with temperatures reducing by up to 7C in overheated homes.

2. Create eco buildings
To meet the government’s requirements, carbon emissions produced by buildings will need to be cut by approximately 70 per cent. Whether retrofitting existing properties or working on a new build, many steps can be taken to improve efficiency. Combined with appropriate insulation and high-performance windows and doors, exterior blinds can help create a consistent temperature in the home all year round.

3. Gain privacy without reducing light
Exterior blinds reduce visibility into the home from the outside. The open weave of the screen fabric used allows light to filter through while reflecting heat so that views can be maintained. Large, open windows have been popular in European architecture for some time, so this is crucial for homeowners who value privacy.

4. Elevate aesthetics while benefiting from long-term savings
Exterior blinds elevate the exterior look of any home with a sleek, stylish finish. The blinds’ hardware can be concealed within the exterior facade, so architects can maintain beautiful contemporary designs, while enjoying the benefits of the product. Once installed, low-maintenance exterior blinds pay big dividends in the long term, with far lower running costs than air conditioning.

5. Futureproof your buildings
The compatibility of Kensington Blinds with smart home automation makes exterior blinds a future proof addition to the home. Users can even install sensors to lower the blinds when the room reaches a certain temperature. The blinds fit seamlessly into smart homes and can be controlled from anywhere.

Contact Details
To find out more, please contact sales@kensingtonblinds.uk or visit the Kensington Blinds website.