Natural Lighting Control - When light becomes energy
Challenge: Sunlight — friend or foe of modern architecture?
I remember a conversation with one of the Warsaw architects, who told me about his flagship project - a 12-storey office building with a glass facade. “This was supposed to be our greatest asset,” he said with a hint of bitterness, “The workers were supposed to feel like they were in an open space, overlooking the city skyline. Meanwhile, on warmer days, the blinds are constantly obscured, and we still have to keep the building cool non-stop. It's like having a Ferrari and driving it only at night.”
This is not an isolated case. Modern office and residential buildings are increasingly reminiscent of glass aquariums, which poses two fundamental problems. The first is the greenhouse effect - on sunny days, the temperature inside can rise up to 10-15 degrees compared to the outside. The second is the problem of glare - direct sunlight reflecting off monitors and office surfaces makes work uncomfortable.
Traditional solutions to this problem are far from ideal. Exterior facade blinds? Yes, they protect against overheating, but they work on the principle of “all or nothing” - either we have full access of light, or almost complete darkness requiring artificial lighting. Interior blinds? These, in turn, do not solve the problem of overheating, because the heat is already inside the building.
As Dr. Anna Borowska from the Warsaw University of Technology notes: “In a typical class A office building, air conditioning costs in the summer period can account for up to 40% of the total energy consumption. It's paradoxical - we use energy to cool a building that overheats from solar energy that we could use.”
And it is precisely in this paradox that lies the crux of the problem. Thousands of square meters of shading space on the facades of buildings are simply wasting solar energy that could be productively used. Traditional blinds or blinds act like a shield - they reflect or absorb solar energy instead of converting it into something useful.
Moreover, these solutions are often the cause of conflicts between users of the space. “In our office we have eternal disputes about blinds - says Katarzyna, office manager at one of the Warsaw corporations - People sitting by the windows complain about too bright light and overheating, so they cover the blinds. Then workers from the depths of the open space protest, for whom it is getting too dark. As a result, some squint at the sun, and others work under artificial light. And no one is pleased.”
The problem becomes even more acute in the context of new EU regulations on the energy efficiency of buildings. By 2030, all new buildings will be zero-emission. But how do we achieve this goal when we have to spend a significant part of our energy fighting the sun instead of exploiting its potential?
Solution: eBlade smart lamellae - when light becomes energy
Let's imagine for a moment that instead of fighting the sun, we could turn it into an ally. That every ray of sunlight that would normally force us to cover the blinds could be used productively. It was this idea that led to the creation of the eBlade system.
The eBlade system is a revolutionary approach to light management in architecture. Instead of traditional blinds that simply block the light, it uses intelligent photovoltaic lamellas that can be precisely controlled. Each lamella is at the same time a mini-solar power plant and an element of a light management system.
“It's a bit like sailing,” explains Tomasz Wiśniewski, chief architect in one of the first buildings to use the eBlade system. “Just as a sailor sets his sails relative to the wind, so we can position the slats relative to the sun. Sometimes we want to capture as much energy as possible, other times the priority is user comfort. The system gives us that flexibility.”
How does it work in practice? The system offers three sizes of slats (S, M and L), which can be mounted both horizontally and vertically. Each lamella can be adjusted from 0 to 90 degrees, with precision every 15 degrees. This allows you to very accurately adjust the amount of light entering the interior. Moreover, the system can be fully automated - the lamellas themselves adjust their angle of inclination to the position of the sun and weather conditions.
Let's take an example of a typical day in an office building. In the early morning, when the sun is low, the lamellas line up almost vertically, transmitting a maximum of light and at the same time protecting from direct glare. At noon, when the sun is highest and strongest, the lamellas take a more horizontal position, creating an effective barrier against overheating. In the late afternoon, the system adapts again, providing optimal conditions.
Importantly, regardless of the angle of inclination, the lamellas produce electricity all the time. And this is not small - depending on the type of lamellas, from 15 to 26 Wp per running meter. “It's like having a small solar power plant hidden in shutters - says Wiśniewski. - In our 6-story building, the eBlade system installed on the south facade generates about 15 kWp of power. This is enough to power all the lighting systems and a good part of the air conditioning.”
Building automation can be programmed according to different priorities. Some customers focus on maximizing energy production, others on user comfort. The system can also take into account individual preferences for different zones of the building. For example, in conference rooms, light control for good visibility of screens can be a priority, while in open spaces - a balance between natural lighting and thermal comfort.
It is also worth mentioning the aesthetic aspect. Unlike traditional photovoltaic panels, which are often seen as an architectural disruptor, the eBlade system is designed to integrate with modern design. The lamellas can be finished in any color from the RAL palette, and their minimalist form adds a technological character to the building.
Benefits: More than the sum of the advantages
Have you ever wondered how much it costs us to fight the sun in modern buildings? I'm not just talking about air conditioning bills here, although these can make you dizzy. I mean the bigger picture — the costs of lost productivity when workers struggle with inadequate lighting, spending on artificial lighting in the middle of a sunny day, or finally the wasted energy potential of thousands of square meters of shading space.
The eBlade system radically changes this situation, offering benefits that go far beyond the simple sum of its features. Let's look at concrete examples from the recently completed office building at Prosta Street in Warsaw, where the system was installed on the south and west facades.
“We have already noticed the first effects in the energy bills,” says Marek Kowalski, facility manager of the building. “Compared to the same period last year, energy consumption for air conditioning decreased by 35%. Add to that the energy generated by the lamellas themselves - about 25 MWh per year - the savings are really significant.”
But that's not all. Employee satisfaction surveys conducted 6 months after the installation of the system showed a 40% decrease in complaints about inadequate lighting and thermal comfort. “People just stopped fighting the blinds,” Kowalski laughs. “The system itself takes care of optimal conditions, and if someone has special preferences, they can easily adjust the settings in their zone through the application.”
Of particular interest is the financial aspect. Let's take the typical facade of a 1000m² office building, where the eBlade system replaces the traditional external blinds:
- Savings on air conditioning: ~45,000 zł/year
- Production of energy from lamellas: ~25 MWh/year = 20.000 zł
- Reduction of lighting costs: ~15.000 zł/year
- Increase in employee productivity (estimated): 3-5%
“It's like having three systems for the price of one,” concludes Anna Witkowska, an architect specializing in sustainable buildings. “Instead of buying a shading system, a daylight management system and a photovoltaic installation separately, we get one integrated solution. And most importantly, these systems do not compete with each other, but cooperate.”
An additional advantage, especially important for developers, is the impact of the system on the value of the building. Buildings equipped with the eBlade system are more likely to achieve high scores in LEED and BREEAM certifications, which translates into higher rental and sales prices. “In our case, the return on investment will occur after 4 years” - confirms Kowalski. “And given rising energy prices and increasingly stringent environmental standards, this investment will pay off faster and faster.”
The eBlade system is also a response to upcoming EU regulations. From 2030, all new buildings will have to be zero-emission. Integrating energy production with a shading system is one of the most efficient ways to meet these requirements without sacrificing additional space for traditional photovoltaic installations.
“It is no longer a question of choosing between ecology and economics,” concludes Witkowska. “The eBlade system shows that you can have both. And by the way, create a space where people just feel better and work more efficiently.”
eBlade Solar Lamella
