Shading as a design element and a solution for building overheating and reducing CO2 emissions

Thermal comfort and suitable lighting conditions in commercial and residential buildings are important year-round. Due to climate change causing higher temperatures, longer and more intense heatwaves, the energy demands for cooling spaces will significantly increase in the coming decades, potentially even surpassing heating costs during the winter months. The use of shading technology significantly contributes to optimizing the overall energy balance of buildings, reducing energy consumption, and adopting more sustainable, passive, and acceptable solutions for our planet.

In light of accelerating global warming, shading technology should be the first solution in the fight against overheating of buildings. According to a scientific study by Guidehouse, automated solar shading could reduce energy consumption for cooling spaces in European buildings by up to 60% by 2050, prevent 100 million tons of CO2 emissions, save 285 billion euros, and thus significantly contribute to the Green Deal for Europe. Despite shading elements being a crucial component of projects today, less than 50% of buildings are equipped with shading technology, and a large portion of that is not automated. The results of the study confirm the belief that solar shading is a much better solution for our planet than air conditioning, and we must urgently consider its use to enhance the energy efficiency and resilience of buildings.

The right choice of shading as the key to success and energy savings

The selection of suitable shading playsa significant role not only in heat and light permeability and energy calculations but also serves as an interior complement. This comes with growing demands from architects and developers for design, quality, adaptation to architectural intentions, and often multifunctional use. Therefore, manufacturers of shading technology must constantly monitor trends while providing expert advice to professionals in the field.

World patent ZOOMTECH® transforms the shading technology industry

One of these is Bematech – a leading European manufacturer of indoor shading technology with over 26 years of tradition. They specialize mainly in the production of fabric roller blinds, wooden blinds, Roman shades, curtains, panel walls, and special shading systems for atypical areas. Their own research and development, focusing primarily on fabric roller blinds and shading for large areas, is exactly what sets the brand apart from others. When the company started in the Czech Republic, the shading technology industry practically did not exist, and shading was hardly considered in architecture. Therefore, in the beginning, they organized training sessions and overall familiarized the local environment with knowledge in the field and technical possibilities. Today, the company boasts a world patent ZOOMTECH® that prevents the bending of the winding tube and deformation of the fabric in large widths, which is now sought after across continents.

ZOOMTECH® technology for better appearance of roller blinds

Creating a healthy comfort zone with shading

“At Bematech, we say that we create a so-called healthy comfort zone. We can influence the intensity of incoming light, the intensity of heat, reduce undesirable noise, and also create a pleasant atmosphere. All of this belongs in a healthy comfort zone,” says the founder of the company, Bernard Mullie. However, a pleasant atmosphere does not have to be associated only with home. Roller blinds, curtains, and blinds made by Bematech create a comfort zone in all EU Council buildings in Brussels, covering about 12,300 square meters of window shading. Thanks to a wide network of partners, you can find Bematech shading technology beyond Europe, where efforts to establish further cooperation are directed in 2022.

A new brand combining design and patented technology

A new product that Bematech has introduced to the market is a new brand named 4INside.eu, focused on partition roller blinds V-PROTECT with special antivirus, antibacterial, and antimicrobial surface treatment. Thanks to this surface treatment, V-PROTECT roller blinds can prevent the spread of infectious particles that adhere to the fabric of the blinds due to airflow. Within 2 hours of contact time, they deactivate more than 99% of bacteria and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. The roller blinds significantly reduce the risk of infection and help create the aforementioned healthy comfort zone. In combination with the patented technology ZOOMTECH®, the roller blinds can reach widths of up to 5 meters on a tube with a diameter of 5 cm instead of the usual 15 cm, without any bending of the tube and deformation of the fabric. All the fabrics for these roller blinds are manufactured without harmful heavy metals, such as silver and copper ions, do not contain halogens, antimony, plasticizers, or harmful dyes. Additionally, strict ethical standards regarding energy and the environment are maintained during production, and all processes are water-based.

Focus on detail and the environment

With growing demands for quality and product design, Bematech also focuses on the smallest details, as well as on the future we leave for the next generations. For this reason, the company continuously improves, modernizes, and streamlines production processes while reducing their energy consumption. It aims to cover energy consumption from renewable sources. They predominantly use environmentally produced and processed materials, which are mainly sourced locally, thus minimizing the need for air transport that has a drastic impact on the environment. Aluminum, plastics, paper, and packaging materials are utilized with maximum efficiency, and waste is recycled. “Our products also help optimize the use of natural resources like light and heat, thereby becoming an active element in energy savings and are a great complement to energy-efficient homes. Last year, we installed solar panels on the company's roof, which became yet another of the many ways we contribute daily to environmental protection and establishing sustainable production,” adds Bernard Mullie.

Contact:
BEMATECH s.r.o.
www.bematech.cz/zoomtech
www.zoomtech.eu
www.4inside.eu/cs