A major study was undertaken by a member of BVST, the Austrian shading association, to calculate the CO2 footprint for external venetian blinds.

This particular sun protection device is popular in central Europe mainly because of its flexibility in controlling the energy and entry of light depending on the day and the season. It is now also becoming recognised in the UK as essential for passive house and low energy compliance.

The study showed that an external venetian blind will save around 8.5 tonnes of CO2 over its life cycle – and yet creates only 150 kg of CO2 from production to disposal.

This means that it saves nearly 60 times its CO2 emissions footprint over a typical 20-year life.

These significant savings are derived from three factors:

Firstly in the summer the venetian blind reduces the solar heat very effectively, so that the need for mechanical cooling (with correspondingly high CO2 emissions) is mitigated or even negated.

Secondly, in cold weather during the day the blind can be raised to allow the sun's warming rays into the interior and then lowered at night in the closed position, to reduce heat losses. A zero-energy building or passive house that covers 20% or more of its heating.

Thirdly with this blind type natural daylight can be harvested as a free energy light source that can, for example, reduce the power required for lighting in offices and schools by up to 80%.

Footprint of a Venetian Blind

A major study was undertaken by a member of the BVST to calculate the CO2 footprint for venetian blinds. This particular sun protection device is popular in central Europe mainly because of its flexibility in controlling the energy and entry of light depending on the day and the season. According to the Institute of Applied Logistics (IAL) at the University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, a venetian blind will save around 8.5 tonnes of CO2 over its life cycle – and yet creates only 150 kg of CO2 from production to disposal.


This means that it saves nearly 60 times its CO2 emissions footprint over a typical 20-year life. The study was commissioned by Warema from Marktheidenfeld and the calculation was carried out according to international performance measurement standards.

These significant savings are derived from three factors:

Firstly in the summer the venetian blind reduces the solar heat very effectively, so that the need for mechanical cooling (with correspondingly high CO2 emissions) is mitigated or even negated.

Secondly, in cold weather during the day the blind can be raised to allow the sun's warming rays into the interior and then lowered at night in the closed position, to reduce heat losses. A zero-energy building or passive house that covers 20% or more of its heating.

Thirdly with this blind type natural daylight can be harvested as a free energy light source that can, for example, reduce the power required for lighting in offices and schools by up to 80%.

Gerstmann concludes: "The result of these studies demonstrates the enormous energy saving potential of external shading. It also highlights just how important variable shading systems are f CO2 Footprint of a Venetian Blind.

Sustainable Shading

A major study has been undertaken by a member of the Austrian Trade Association, BVST, to calculate the CO2 footprint for external venetian blinds. According to the Institute of Applied Logistics (IAL) at the University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, an external venetian blind will save around 8.5 tonnes of CO2 over its life cycle – and yet creates only 150 kg of CO2 from production to disposal.

This means that it saves nearly 60 times its CO2 emissions footprint over a typical 20-year life.

The study was commissioned by Warema from Marktheidenfeld and the calculation was carried out according to international performance measurement standards.

These significant savings are derived from three factors:

Firstly in the summer the venetian blind reduces the solar heat very effectively, so that the need for mechanical cooling (with correspondingly high CO2 emissions) is mitigated or even negated.

Secondly, in cold weather during the day the blind can be raised to allow the sun's warming rays into the interior and then lowered at night in the closed position, to reduce heat losses. A zero-energy building or passive house that covers 20% or more of its heating.

Thirdly with this blind type natural daylight can be harvested as a free energy light source that can, for example, reduce the power required for lighting in offices and schools by up to 80%.

Gerstmann concludes: "The result of these studies demonstrates the enormous energy saving potential of external shading. It also highlights just how important variable shading systems are for our climate zones to regulate the heat like a thermostat at the window. Similarly they act like a dimmer switch to the control the entry of light."

or our climate zones to regulate the heat like a thermostat at the window. Similarly they act like a dimmer switch to the control the entry of light."

For more details please visit www.hallmarkblinds.co.uk or contact info@hallmarkblinds.co.uk