The use of shading to stay cool in the summer months is not new – it has been around for hundreds of years.
But did you know that shading is a dynamic and flexible solution that is very effective all year round?
Shading has a great role to play in keeping us warm and cosy during the winter.
On sunny winter days, open your blinds and shutters to get free heat from the sun to warm your home and workplace.
Research shows that by opening your blinds and shutters during sunny winter days you can save on heating energy at home – by up to 15% in northern Europe, 17% in central Europe, 41% in southern Europe
During the evening, close shading to trap heat inside and be more energy efficient.
By comparison, other solutions such as solar protection glass, which prevents heat from the sun coming through the windows, means we miss out on free warmth during the winter when we need it!
This means, you could be missing out on lots of free solar gains (energy) especially with more and more of us creating homes with large glazing to enjoy the views outside.
While solar protection glass is fixed, smart shading is dynamic and flexible.
Shading is a smart way to help regulate heat in the home, as well as offering many other benefits – providing privacy, security and safety as well as managing glare from low level sun when we need it.
Blinds, shutters and awnings are a great way to keep us comfortable all year around at home, in our workspaces or in public spaces.
We will be celebrating Global Shading Day on March 21 2026 to raise awareness of the benefits of shading to live more sustainable, energy efficient lifestyles that protect us and the planet all year round.
Find out more www.globalshadingday.com
