EMSyS – Which One is Right For Your Home?

• Posted On: May 12, 2022

Buildings in urban India are seeing a trend of larger glazed areas, less fixed shading, and limited flexibility to orient dwellings in the desired direction. Unfortunately, these aspects are leading to thermal discomfort, with many people choosing to invest in ACs.

Given this scenario, there exists a great opportunity to explore the option of External Movable Shading Systems, or EMSyS. EMSyS can play a significant role in keeping your house relatively more thermally comfortable in a simple and pocket-friendly way, and could reduce how often you need to run the AC.

Contrary to common assumptions, EMSyS are readily available in the Indian market, with a large range of options that can be used in a home setting. EMSyS is available in a variety of forms such as shutters, vertical screens, retractable awnings, vertical louvers, lamella blinds, etc.

With so many options available, you may be puzzled about which one is ideal for your home. So we are here to simplify the mystery and list out 4 primary considerations you should make before purchasing and installing an EMSyS.

 

1. Climate of the region

This is one of the most important factors to consider when selecting the type of external shading you want. There are five major climate zones in India: hot-dry, warm-humid, composite, temperate, and cold. Each environment demands a unique set of shading strategies. A city like Jaipur, for example, comes under the hot-dry zone; for this type of city, awnings, shutters with louvers, and blinds would be ideal. Similarly, different zones require different types of EMSyS based on the climatic requirements of the region.

2. Orientation

Orientation plays a crucial role in deciding which window of your home needs EMSyS. If the longer side of your house faces east, west or southwest and has large openings, then EMSyS is a must for that orientation, as it will have the most heat gain. These factors differ according to the orientation of the longer axis of your building.

3. Price Range

The cost of EMSyS varies depending on the type. Awnings are the most affordable, with prices ranging from INR 200 to 500 per square feet. They offer heat protection but have less wind resistance. Vertical screens are another variety that is widely purchased in the Indian market, with prices ranging from INR 350 to 800 per square feet, depending on the brand and quality. These are the most effective at preventing heat from entering the structure. Another category is shutters, which are slightly more expensive but are highly durable and gives great heat resistance as well as wind resistance. Their prices range from INR 1000 to 1500 per square feet.

4. Ease of Installation

EMSyS are usually simple to install these devices, and they do not demand any additional construction work on your home, making them a cost-effective investment in the long run. Awnings are the easiest to install but are inadvisable if you stay in a tall building especially in windy areas. Vertical screens are the next simplest in terms of installation. Finally, shutters are placed at the bottom of the list since they require additional steps to be completed during the installation process.

There are many options available in the market, but the final decision will depend on the above 4 factors. Additionally, there can be other sub-factors, for example, if you live in a rented flat, there’s a high possibility that no external modifications will be allowed. In such a case EMSYS like vertical screens can be used. Thus, it is essential that you study your building and its regional area thoroughly to better understand which EMSyS option will work best for you.

 

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• Tahura Fatima
  Tahura Fatima is an architectural intern with the Indo-Swiss BEEP. Currently, pursuing her Bachelor’s in Architecture from the Aligarh Muslim University. She aspires to be an advocate for sustainability and believes that the implications of net-zero energy designs are an essential parameter that should be integrated into every design at various levels.