DESIGN IDEAS

Discover the Perfect Balance of Beauty, Functionality, and Design

Many homeowners in Paradise, AZ, are looking to reduce their energy usage, whether to lower costs or create a greener home. One of the growing strategies in this quest for an energy-efficient home is managing daylight through motorized shades.

Utilizing daylight reduces the need for electric light and lowers the usage of your HVAC system in the winter. In the summer, managing this light reduces solar heat gain. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), approximately 30% of your home’s heat is lost through the windows, and over 75% of sunlight entering double-pane windows becomes heat. 

At Scottsdale Shade & Light, we partner with the global industry leader, the premier designer and manufacturer of lighting and shade control. Lutron shades set themselves apart in style, quality, effortless management, and near-silent operations. 

Let’s explore how these shades reduce energy costs and create greener homes. 

SEE ALSO: Daylight Autonomy: What It Means for Building Design

Managing Daylight

In a home with manual shades, we tend to open them in the early morning hours and close them when direct sunlight starts heating up our homes. A study by the DOE found that 75% of home window coverings remain in the same position, never taking advantage of a daylighting strategy. Motorized shades change that. 

In addition to one-touch operation of all the shades in your home, these systems also operate on their own, responding to changing temperatures and sunlight. In the winter, the shades along the southern façade open, taking advantage of the warm, direct sunlight. In the summer, these same shades lower to block solar heat gain.

Throughout the day, they respond to changing sunlight patterns, protecting your home from the direct UV rays that cause damage while letting in the diffuse sunlight. This natural light also reduces the need for electric lights. When both lighting and shades are automated, the perfect dance unfolds. When the shades open, your lighting responds by dimming in occupied rooms. As the sun heats up a home and the shades lower, your light fixtures brighten, maintaining the ideal illumination.

Selecting Energy-Efficient Shades

Homeowners can also go one step further in minimizing energy usage through their choice in styles and locations. Lutron’s honeycomb shades provide air pockets, creating a thermal barrier between your living spaces and windows. This trapped air acts as insulation against the hot days of summer and the cold chill of winter. In fact, compared to ordinary shades, these window coverings can reduce heat by up to 40%. These shades also possess a white backing that acts as a reflector, keeping your home much cooler.

Hard-to-reach windows, such as skylights and architectural windows, also make it challenging to manage daylight. Lutron’s custom tension shades provide the ideal solution for every window. Lower the shades over the skylights with one touch when direct sunlight enters a room. 

Additionally, Lutron’s brand-new Natural Light Optimization feature allows its HomeWorks and RadioRA3 systems to track the sun’s movements, utilizing latitude and longitude sensors to automatically adjust shades throughout the day. This solution makes it even easier to brighten your living spaces with the ideal amount of light. 

At Scottsdale Shade & Light, we specialize in helping you manage this incredible force while elevating your home’s design in extraordinary ways. To learn more about Lutron shades or to schedule a complimentary consultation, contact Scottsdale Shade & Light today.