A Literature Review Outlining the Importance of Blinds and Shutters as a Sustainable Asset that has the Potential to enhance the Productivity of Occupants in the UK

Blinds and Shutters in the UK are still thought of as an optional window dressing rather than a low
cost sustainable building asset that can enhance a window/glazing system’s performance and in
return, save energy through passive thermal measures and measurable solar performance. Although
the array of benefits is validated for blinds and shutters there are historic barriers to realising the
potential for saving energy. Simple behavioural change related to the use of existing products would
be a no cost productivity and energy benefit.
Use of blinds and shutters is based on the need of a variety of factors in both commercial and
domestic markets. These factors can be categorized into three broad areas namely energy savings,
comfort (inclusive of visual, thermal and acoustic preferences) and occupant satisfaction which
contribute to improving the health, well-being and productivity of occupants.
In recent publications it has been demonstrated how thermal, visual, acoustic and controllability of
occupants’ working environments impacts productivity. The business case for linking productivity to
‘green’ working environments has been made by the World Green Building Council (WGBC)
highlighting how productivity of staff is a greater incentive for commercial buildings to become more
sustainable.
This study incorporates a literature review of the sustainable benefits of shading and illustrates how
they are an asset to the building façade in creating dynamic, comfortable and potentially productive
environments for the commercial sector. However, we highlight the difficulties of this research and
outline a potential future study.