08.02.2022
Rapidly rising energy prices have caused concerns around the world. The International Energy Agency (IEA) finds that the price of electricity at the end of 2021 has risen to its highest level in Europe in more than a decade.
Most new apartment buildings in Finland have glazed balconies from the outset. Architects and construction developers know that balcony glazing is a sensible investment that not only improves the quality of housing but also makes it more affordable. Balcony glazing is an energy-efficient solution with demonstrated benefits in the long term.
Energy savings through retractable balcony glazing
Lumon's retractable glazing solutions protects the balcony in bad weather conditions and helps to optimize heat loss in new buildings in an uncomplicated way. Energy prices are rising, environmental awareness is growing. Old buildings are renovated according to the latest energy standards and new construction projects are adapted to the increased requirements. The exterior of the building must be thermally separated in order to minimize thermal bridges. Otherwise, the adjoining rooms will cool down quickly. The result is increased energy loss. In addition to the thermal separation of the component itself, the energy requirement can be optimized by glazing. A glazing solution with a retractable system offers the building user the advantages of a classic balcony on one hand, on the other hand, a buffer zone is created between the indoor and outdoor areas. It makes a positive contribution to saving energy. In a Finnish study it was found that a glazed balcony typically saves at least 200 kilowatt hours of energy compared to an unglazed balcony. This means that even on a conservative estimate, the 600,000 glazed balconies in Finland save at least 120 gigawatt-hours of energy annually, cutting almost EUR 1.5 million from energy bills.
Balcony glazing as a cold and heat buffer
Glazed balcony as an extension of the living space. The glazed area becomes a cold and heat buffer between the interior and exterior of the building, which stores heat on cool days. Retractable balconies create a large-area for this cold and heat buffer. On cool but sunny days, the temperature in the glazed balcony rises. If the temperature then drops, the area reacts with a delay and cools down more slowly. The heating costs for the rooms behind are significantly lower. On particularly hot days, however, the balcony glazing in front prevents excessively heated air from penetrating into the living areas behind. When the temperature rises, however, the pane elements can also be moved and stowed on the side. The balcony becomes an open outdoor area. The possibility of opening individual elements of the system separately ensures ventilation of the glazed balcony. Lumon's lightweight and easy to use glazing systems, guarantee pleasant temperatures, regardless of the season. Lumon provides all the help you need for planning and completing your glazing project and estimating its costs.
Lower heating costs
How effectively a glazed balcony works as an energy-saving solution depends on the location of the building element and the time of year and day. The thermal insulation and structural density of the building also affect the amount of waste heat. According to an international study, the average heating energy saving in apartments with variable balcony glazing was 8.2 percent. While all balcony types achieve significant savings, internal balconies show a higher energy reduction than external variants without side walls. Outdoor seating on the south side of a property - which faces the midday sun - has proven to be particularly sustainable. Since the retractable/sliding glazing also absorbs the wind pressure on the facade, energy consumption is additionally reduced. Even if a window element is opened for ventilation, the outdoor seating area still has higher energy-saving properties than a balcony without a glass solution. There is also another positive side effect: the building material of the balcony interior is protected and wear and tear reducing maintenance and repair costs.
Are you interested in learning more about Lumon balcony glazing solutions and all the benefits that come with it? Our experts will be happy to advise you on your individual project and construction project.
