By Clint Childress, LEED®AP, Market Director – Draper At Home
Window shades allow you to adjust the amount of natural light entering your home. They create a comfortable ambiance and reduce glare, all while ensuring you get the natural light you need.
But for shades to be most effective, they need to be in the right position at the right time. Traditionally, this has been done manually, using remotes or wall switches, scheduling shade movements, or using sensors to allow the shades to react to light conditions.
The Importance of Circadian Rhythms
Circadian rhythms are the natural, internal processes that regulate our sleep-wake cycle and repeat roughly every 24 hours. These rhythms are influenced by external cues like light and temperature. A well-regulated circadian rhythm helps:
- Improve your sleep
- Enhance cognitive function
- Improve your mood
- Optimized metabolism
Natural light is a major factor in regulating our circadian rhythms, especially in the morning. It helps synchronize our internal clock with nature. Shades are an important tool in getting the balance between natural light and glare and heat reduction right to maximize comfort.
Following the Flowers
Responding to conditions or trying to anticipate them has worked pretty well for shade control. But we were interested in taking shade control to the next level: making it intuitive and proactive.
There were several thoughts on ways to do that, but the direction we took was inspired by some observations of the natural world. In fact, it all started in my own garden.
I grow sunflowers in our garden, and the window in my home office offers a beautiful view of them throughout the summer. One day as I was contemplating beauty of the many pseudanthia (that’s botanical talk for the head of the sunflower), it struck me how sunflowers get the maximum benefit from the sun: they rotate to follow the sun’s path throughout the day. This behavior is called heliotropism. Thus was born the idea behind TourneSol.
TourneSol is a heliotropic sun-tracking system which, just like sunflowers, follows the sun’s path, gradually adjusting your motorized window shades in unnoticeable increments to match the position of the sun throughout the day and control light levels, reduce glare, and maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. It also brings critical daylight exposure in the morning and creates a sleep friendly environment at night.
But that’s not all!
TourneSol not only maximizes comfort and wellness; it also helps protect your home and furnishings. TourneSol can set a direct light penetration depth to protect furniture, flooring, musical instruments, and artwork from exposure to harmful UV rays.
- Energy Efficiency. By controlling the amount of sunlight that enters your home, window shades can help regulate indoor temperatures, reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling.
- Window shades provide an added layer of privacy, allowing you to enjoy natural light without compromising your personal space.
- Protection from UV Rays. Prolonged exposure to UV rays can damage furniture, flooring, and artwork. Window shades help block harmful UV rays, preserving the quality of your interiors.
- Aesthetic Appeal. Modern window shades come in various styles and materials, allowing you to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home while enjoying their functional benefits.
Learn more about using the power of the sunflower to create a healthier, more balanced lifestyle and protect your interiors at https://www.draperathome.com/?S=sunflower.
