In a recent post on the Draper blog, it was pointed out that there is a certain irony in modern “green” architecture and design: In our attempts to use the positive aspects of natural daylight to make our buildings more sustainable and comfortable, the opposite actually often occurs.
The Draper Topspin. being unveiled at Greenbuild 2015.
The problem is this: There are documented improvements in health and productivity related to daylighting and views in glass façade buildings, but all that glass also means more energy to cool, and the addition of new issues such as glare.
Fortunately, Draper is poised to help: fixed or operable exterior shading is the solution to the problems I outlined above.
Greenbuild is the world’s largest trade show for sustainable architecture and building design, and every fall this show gives us a great opportunity to spread the word about Draper’s daylight management and solar control solutions among those in the design community.
The past couple of years, we’ve introduced some amazing new solar control products at Greenbuild, and this year is going to be no different.
Other Draper solutions, including Omega Exterior Venetian Blinds, will be part of our Greenbuild display.
At the 2015 Greenbuild show, we will be announcing an addition to the line of solar control products we’ve introduced and expanded over the past couple of years. Topspin is a lightweight, retractable fabric shading system designed for skylight openings.
The Topspin is a series of fabric panels mounted onto spring-loaded roller tubes. It can be installed on the exterior or interior on horizontal, vertical, sloped, and curved surfaces. The Topspin is available in sizes up to more than 10 feet wide and over 42 feet long. The spring rollers can be deployed and retracted according to need. Despite its light weight, the product can withstand wind speeds of up to 38 miles per hour when covering large areas.
Topspin offers various degrees of openness and protects against solar gain and glare while allowing natural light to reach interior spaces. We’ll be showing a 26-foot-long Topspin unit in our Greenbuild booth.
Greenscreen Evolve.
We will also be once again showing other products in our solar control line, including our ADEX Award-winning Omega Venetian Blinds, FlexLouver Rack Arm System, and Bottom-Up FlexShades. We’ll also be displaying some motorized shades with our latest zero waste fabric offering. Draper has had zero-waste fabrics in the past, but some were turned off by their look. Draper window shades with Mermet’s GreenScreen® Evolve™ combine the best in sustainability, functionality, and design in a zero waste designer shade fabric. Evolve is Cradle-to-Cradle Certified™ Silver with a traditional basketweave appearance, enhancing view through qualities of the material. Manufactured in the United States it contains up to 78% Repreve® fibers, made from 100% recycled post-industrial and consumer plastic waste. The translucent Evolve comes in nine designer colors with a diamond knit pattern for beautiful views. It is available in 1%, 3%, 5%, and 10% openness factors.
We’ll also be looking for feedback on another possible fabric addition … this one is called Revolution. It’s PVC-free, made from plants, and is the first Cradle-to-Cradle Gold certified fabric. We’ll have it in the booth and see what people think.
If you’re heading to Washington, D.C., on November 18 and 19 to attend Greenbuild, I hope you will stop by booth 927 and see Draper’s solutions to helping keep glass façade buildings a part of the sustainable cities of the future.
