Low-tech Blinds

In the spirit of using off-the-shelf components, the Boston team in the Solar Decathlon is using a simple plastic shading system on the south-facing windows. Unlike most blinds, however, they are placed on the outside to save indoor space.

The idea is to keep the shades down to keep heat from the sun out during hot times of the year and to open them to maximize incoming heat (and daylight) during cold times. One planned high-tech touch is the use of a "warm wall," or glass plates filled with two inches of liquid. This will act to retain heat during cold days, releasing heat into the room at night.

The overhang seen here was done deliberately to provide shade when the sun is higher during the summer but maximize incoming sunlight during the winter when light comes in at a lower angle.