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12 March 2009
International professional services company GHD has developed a
landmark concept to radically cut energy use in high-rise
buildings.
The external shading system sits like a skin on the outside of a
building, moving around on tracks to shield the sun while still
allowing daylight to penetrate.
Made from a lightweight frame incorporating photovoltaic cells,
the sunshield:
- Reduces the energy required to light and cool the building by
30 percent.
- Produces enough energy to power the movement of the shade and
provide up to 10 percent of the building’s remaining power
needs.
- Is made from a simple and cost-effective series of modular
panels, which can be removed individually without compromising the
whole system.
- Incorporates a guide rail at each floor level to provide both
structural support and access for cleaning and maintenance.
The concept was developed through GHD’s innovation program,
which invites the company’s 6000 people to submit, collaborate and
vote on ideas and provides a transparent, formal process through
which their innovation can be recognised and acted on.
The solar shading device was submitted by Martin Hay,
Architecture Manager in GHD’s Doha office, and developed and tested
in collaboration with the company’s Brisbane and Melbourne
offices.
In the Middle East where summer temperatures can soar past 48C
accompanied by weeklong dust storms, keeping homes and offices cool
and well lit can consume up to 70 percent of the total power use
for a building.
Mr Hay said: “To create truly sustainable cities, shading needs
to be an integral part of any infrastructure to reduce the need for
air conditioning and lighting in the first place.
"Hot countries have traditionally regulated temperatures using a
combination of anti-sun glazing, internal blinds and
air-conditioning. However, blinds do not stop the heat from passing
through the glass façade and being trapped within the building, and
reflective glazing systems increase the need for artificial
lighting.
“We have estimated that if you mounted the sunshade system on a
40,000 m2 tower, 40 floors high, the shade could reduce
CO2 production by 600 tonnes and generate 1,000 Megawatt
hours of power a year."
The idea spiked interest in the construction industry after Mr
Hay presented it at a Building Materials’ Construction &
Technology Congress in Kuwait City.
The sunshade concept has the potential to support sustainability
objectives in the Middle East, as well as northern Australia, South
East Asia, Africa and Central and South America.
GHD will conduct in-depth studies with selected manufacturers to
refine the concept and explore the potential for transference of
electricity generated to the grid, and an integrated water-based
cooling system powered by the shield to further reduce
air-conditioning.
Launched globally in 2008, GHD’s innovation program has already
seen 1200 ideas submitted with more than 30 being progressed to the
funding stage.
For further information, contact:
Sonia Adams