Life cycle efficiency of solar shading systems: a proof-of-concept

Solar control strategies are essential for the glare and decreasing cooling needs or overheating risks (in absence of active system), however, they come with their own embodied energy. With carbon neutrality objective looking at 2050 horizon, life-cycle assessment (LCA) approach is needed to evaluate impact decisions made on different building components, including solar shading systems. To that end, this paper applies a relatively new concept defined as Life-Cycle Efficiency Ratio (LCER) quantify trade-off between operational Results based low-carbon case study suggests adding shadings does not reduce life cycle emissions project. Also, analyses show ratio benefits impacts external fabric blind highest, while lowest internal blinds in study.