In a study conducted by ESTIA (Building Physics and sustainable development school located in Lausanne, Switzerland), window blind operation was studied via webcam over a period of one year to determine how many times the occupants manually adjusted the position of the blind. 500 000 pictures were captured and analysed in terms of movement up/down or changing the angle of the slats.
Conclusion: Manual blinds moved less than twice per week.
“The worst results are for the facades with manually crank operated blinds. Their inefficiency is twice that of a facade with motorised solar protections controlled via remote control or wall switch.”
This results in the solar shading most of the time being in a non-optimal position, especially from an energy management perspective.
Automation is the key to performance, savings, security and a healthy indoor climate, and also to secure and maximise the life span of the installation.
(Source: ESTIA Study, Bernard Paule, 2014.)