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windows using thermal blinds in commercial office building

Two papers published in ScienceDirect by HOBO Thought Leader Mohammad Heidarinejad explain methodological frameworks used for evaluating the thermal and energy performance of smart building systems in existing buildings, with a focus on automated interior insulating window shades as an energy efficiency retrofit measure. The second study focused on the long-term energy efficiency using motorized insulated blinds—both conducted in a Chicago high-rise commercial buildings. 

A framework to evaluate the thermal and energy performance of smart building systems in existing building discusses:

  • Highlights the benefits, challenges, and limitations in conducting long-term measurements that capture realistic temporal, seasonal, and operational patterns in an occupied existing building
  • Provides practical considerations for such measurements and analysis approaches, upon which future studies can build.
  • Emphasizes the importance of ensuring that the study design and measurements do not interfere with the building’s existing operations.

Assessing the long-term energy performance of automated interior insulating window shades in a high-rise commercial building topics include: 

  • Developed and tested three motorized control sequences to adjust shade positions.
  • Showed the motorized shades can reduce daily energy consumption by up to 20.5 %.
  • Motorized insulating shades are a promising energy efficiency measure.

Learn how HOBO Data Loggers and other frameworks were used to provide key data that provided insights into the long-term energy efficiency strategies.

Dr. Heidarinejad shares more about these studies, strategies and findings in his Thought Leader webinar:

View Assessing Energy Performance of Insulating Window Shades Webinar