Shading system to slash energy use by 30%

Email a friend this article Print This Article

A unique shading system designed to shield the sun whilst allowing daylight penetration has the potential to radically cut air-conditioning and lighting use in buildings.

In hot countries, keeping offices cool and well lit can consume up to 70 percent of the total power use of a building. Using air-conditioning in isolation to cool a building is both costly and environmentally unsustainable.

GHD's idea is an external shading system that shields the sun while allowing daylight penetration. It sits like a skin on the outside of the building, moving around on tracks to follow the sun’s path throughout the day. Made from a lightweight frame with incorporated photovoltaic cells, the sunshield:

  • Produces enough energy to power the movement of the shade and reduce the energy required to light and cool the building by 30 percent 
  • Provides 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 and
  • Incorporates a guide rail at each floor level to provide both structural support and access for cleaning and maintenance

Originally developed in Doha, specialists in Melbourne and Perth have since collaborated to hone and test the concept.

Architecture

image

GHD has a networked architecture service group comprising over 400 architects operating in three regions: Australia and New Zealand, the Middle East and Asia.

This connected team has the capacity to deliver large to very large projects. Our architects are strongly client focused and contribute to the delivery of comprehensive, holistic and innovative design solutions, in collaboration with the integrated GHD building and design teams.

Read More . . .

Construction Management

image

GHD provides services in the public and private sectors in Australia, New Zealand, south-east Asia and the Middle East. We build our business on understanding our client's business, needs and expectations. We take the time to understand each project's features and complexity to deliver a tailored service.

GHD's construction management services combine technical capabilities with engineering, planning, management, auditing and contract administration skills. Our team also has access to other experienced GHD specialists in areas such as environmental or community consultation, resulting in a complete one-stop-shop solution. 

Read More . . .

HVAC

image

GHD has a global network of HVAC professionals that are able to meet our clients’ current and future project demands in a broad range of market sectors - laboratory, communication, residential, computer, government, hotel, industrial, defence, sport, health, sports, education, retail and commercial.

  • Energy efficiency, sustainable design and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are critical components of our work.
  • As well as conventional HVAC design, GHD draws upon its advanced technology, the latest computational tools and its sustainable design experience to provide services, including:
  • Integrated sustainable design
  • Environmentally sustainable design (ESD) services – including sustainability, energy simulation, energy and water auditing services, design of passive cooling systems, accredited Green Star, NABERS, LEED and other major building ratings, integrated energy management and green building framework development
  • Project brief development and design reviews
  • Building envelope and heat transmission simulations
  • Computational fluid dynamics
  • Visual and thermal comfort analysis
  • Passive and active systems for energy efficiency
  • Life cycle costing
  • Post operational evaluations
  • Building audit services

For more information, contact:

Read More . . .

Related Projects
By Location
By Architecture
By Construction Management
By HVAC