Everything You’ve Ever Needed to Know about Solar Shades

Let’s face it—our planet is getting warmer and warmer. Global warming is definitely not a myth. From the melting snows of Kilimanjaro to France’s record heat-wave, many of us are feeling the rising temperature already. And with all that extra heat, chances are many of us will be cranking up the air conditioner when the thermostat starts to climb.

That in itself is bad news for the environment. Air conditioners use a great deal of energy, as anyone who’s gotten an electric bill after a particularly hot summer month will tell you. The more energy we use, the more our environmental resources are depleted.

But that’s not the only problem with air conditioning. Many residential air conditioners use fluorocarbons as refrigerants. Fluorocarbons are typically not dangerous to humans, nor do they cause any damage to the environment when inside the air conditioning unit. The trouble comes when old fluorocarbon air conditioners are disposed of. Improper disposal technique will cause the fluorocarbons to be released into the atmosphere, where they deplete the ozone layer.

To combat the damage done by fluorocarbon air conditioning units on the ozone layer, many manufacturers now use hydrofluorocarbons (HFC’s) instead of fluorocarbons as a cooling agent. HFC’s do not damage the ozone layer. But they’re greenhouse gases. Air conditioners with HFC refrigerants release their HFC’s into the atmosphere over time, effectively making the world hotter—even while cooling your home.

The air conditioning industry has been looking for a more environmentally friendly cooling agent for some time. The problem, however, is that most alternative cooling materials are not safe or stable enough for residential use. Ammonia, carbon dioxide, and propane have all been investigated as possible sources; however, each of these has its own problems in terms of safety. Ammonia is poisonous, and propane is highly combustible.

In addition, although these materials would neither damage the ozone layer nor contribute to global warming, they come with their own environmental issues. Ammonia’s toxicity could cause disposal problems later on, and propane is a natural gas—so relying on it for air conditioning will put further strain on our natural resources. Carbon dioxide is simply not very effective as a cooling agent. All told, no safe, environmentally friendly and cost-effective method of air conditioning has been discovered yet.

Which brings us to solar shades. Solar shades are screens made of material specially designed to block up to 90% of the sun’s heat. They are usually installed on the outside of windows, especially skylights and windows that receive direct sunlight.

There are several different types of solar shades on the market. Some are made of polyester or fiberglass with a reflective coating, and some are weaved with special solar-control film. Many solar shades come with a silvery backing that reflects solar heat. Some solar shades come in different colors, including black, but the silvery colors are the most effective. Pale and reflective colors reflect light and heat, while darker colors absorb it—making reflective solar shades much more efficient in repelling the effects of the sun.

Solar shades also come in varying levels of opacity. In general, the lower the solar shade’s openness rating, the less light it will allow in—making it more effective. A solar shade with a 1% openness rating, for example, tells you that 1% of the fabric in the shade is transparent, and 99% is solid—making the shade very opaque. The downside is that with a solar shade of a 1% openness rating, you won’t be able to see outside. Solar shades with an openness rating higher than around 10% lose their effectiveness, even though they are easy to see through.

The right solar shade, however, can significantly reduce your air conditioning needs. In many regions of the U.S., solar shading eliminates the need for air conditioning altogether. This is excellent news for the environment, as solar shades release no toxins into the air and use no electricity or other natural resources. It can also be good news for your bank account—they’re likely to lower your energy bill in the summertime by a significant amount. They also require no maintenance and won’t break, as air conditioning units sometimes do.

Solar shades may be one small part of the solution to global warming. They’re definitely the one effective means of cooling a house without polluting that we’ve come up with so far. Chances are, solar shades will become more and more prevalent as global warming grows worse. Hopefully, they can do their part to lessen the problem.