Insulating shutters: innovative enhancements for energy saving, comfort, and security

Panel: Panel 2. Making buildings more energy efficient

Authors:
Gerald Cler, Synertech Systems Corporation
Larry Kinney, Synertech Systems Corporation

Abstract

Outside shutters are used extensively in European housing stock to provide shading, privacy, security, and add aesthetic appeal. However most shutters are hand operated and almost none provide good insulation. Yet windows systems, particularly in older housing stock, tend to be quite wasteful. The addition of well insulated and air sealed shutter systems can substantially limit radiant, convective, and conductive losses in both summer and winter, thereby saving energy and increasing comfort.

This paper describes progress on research aimed at developing a family of insulating shutters suitable for retrofit or new building stock in the European community. It discusses costs and energy savings of the shutter systems under varying circumstances of weather conditions and existing fenestration. The shutters under development have the following properties:

When closed, increase the effective insulating value of a single-glazed window by a factor of nearly 12 (comparing a single pane clear glass window with indoor shade to the same window, air gap, and shutter system);
Slide open and shut on fixed elements, thereby providing extra strength in wind and snow;
May be equipped with a variety of facades to accommodate special operational or aesthetic needs;
Are operated by means of self-contained stepper motors, electronics, and photovoltaic power supplies to facilitate inexpensive installation on new and retrofit buildings;
Are automated to optimize energy performance year around, while automatically responding to emergencies such as high winds or fire.
May be manipulated by occupants to over-ride automatic operation.