Energy efficiency and conservation will be a priority for developers in 2011, after Housing Minister Grant Shapps reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring new homes post-2016 are carbon neutral and intends to raise the regulatory requirements for commercial buildings, so that these too are zero carbon from 2019.

According to the Carbon Trust, non-domestic buildings today account for 16.5% of the UK’s total carbon emissions. Developers and commercial owners need to be mindful therefore of the effects their early planning decisions will have on a building’s overall energy efficiency.

One of Italy’s leading designers and manufacturers of interstitial blinds SUNBell, has introduced a high-quality, innovative and energy-efficient solution to complement a buildings environmental needs.

Using the latest technology, SUNBell blinds provide enhanced privacy, low maintenance and reduce sound intrusion and solar glare. More importantly they will reduce air-conditioning and heating costs in all-types of commercial and domestic buildings by providing greater insulation and light reflection than from traditional alternatives.

Ideal for commercial glazing, SUNBell blinds are the perfect glazing choice for medical, educational and commercial buildings. In sensitive areas such as computer and research laboratories, intensive care wards, classrooms and other public areas, interstitial blinds are a flexible and energy efficient response to managing a building’s environment. Sealed from dirt, dust and moisture, they are a hygienic and safe solution to such sustainable concerns.

By controlling the diffusion of natural light, blinds can help to reduce the effect of direct sunlight and heat loss, offering protection from overheating in the summer and thermal insulation in the winter.

For the designer, blinds are both a creative and practical solution to a project, adding elegance and style while at the same time offering a safe and low maintenance answer to providing light, heat and privacy.

Manufactured to order by SUNBell on a three-week lead time, the blinds are available in a choice of spacer widths from 22 to 27mm and in a range of nine stylish aluminum finishes, five pleated and eight duette fabric colours, including four blackout options.

SUNBell blinds are designed for windows, doors and glass partitions from 100mm to 3m high and 250mm to 2.5m wide.

SUNBell blinds are powered by patented high-performance, low-voltage motorised systems with control technology that varies from the simple ‘up and down’ rechargeable battery unit to more sophisticated systems with remote activation for up to 12 blinds.

The rechargeable battery unit gives users the power to operate the blind individually via a simple magnetic connection positioned either on the glass or on the frame. The removable battery actuator is a flexible solution that is easily rechargeable and transferable from blind to blind. It has no central wiring and can therefore be installed without any specialist support, either in the factory or onsite.

For hardwire systems, SUNBell offers a choice of either group or individual switching through an ulra-thin membrane switch on the glass (Sunpass) — up to 10 blinds can be linked together in this way. For remote activation, SUNBell’s control system allows four, eight or 12 blinds to be linked together and operated either individually or as a group (Suncen).

Power controls may be incorporated into programmable home-automation systems to enable remote access and solar control.

SUNBell is an established designer and manufacturer of quality blind solutions and electrical control systems, offering a unique combination of Italian design, quality and engineering excellence for the ultimate in solar-shading solutions.

For more details please call (01245) 422489, email: info@sunbell.co.uk or visit www.sunbell.it.