The terms Brise Soleil and solar shading are often used interchangeably and with good reason. Brise Soleil is French for sun breaker, as it uses blades, louvres, or fins to break up the sunlight entering a building. Brise Soleil, or solar shading, has a number of features that make it easily recognisable.
What is it?
Brise Soleil is an architectural feature that is installed on the outside of a building. With accurately positioned louvres, fins, or blades that can be fixed or movable, it reduces solar heat when it is strongest in the middle of the day, but continues to allow in light, including sunlight in the evening, morning, and winter.
Why use it?
Sunlight, particularly in the summer and in the middle of the day, can make a building feel uncomfortably warm. This often results in increased use in cooling systems, mechanical ventilation, and air conditioning. These will not only carry a considerable expense, but they also use high levels of energy, so are bad for the environment. Installing solar shading from a reputable firm like alusystems.uk/brise-soleil-solar-shading can help keep a building at a comfortable temperature during hotter months, while reducing energy bills and contributing to a net zero energy target.
Features of solar shading
Brise Soleil is usually installed on south-facing elevations to be effective when the sun is at its highest and strongest. It can be adjustable or fixed and is made from a variety of materials, including wood and aluminium, in different colours and shapes that can enhance the aesthetics of the edifice.