Motorized Shades

Automated, motorized shading has been commercially available for decades. Most products are designed to block direct sun either through the height of a roller shade or the slat angle of a louvered system. More recently, products have begun to tackle glare, exterior obstructions, integration with other building systems, and fault detection and diagnostics to improve end-user satisfaction and facilitate operation and maintenance. LBNL has conducted research in collaboration with industry to understand the performance impacts of automated systems on energy use, peak demand, and most important, end user comfort, satisfaction, and acceptance of automated shading.

Automated roller shades and digitally addressable dimmable lighting in The New York Times daylighting mockup.  Photo: David Joseph.