Architects and designers are finding—and residential and commercial clients are demanding—more ways to let light into residential and commercial spaces. Where skylights were once considered exotic, now it’s not unusual to find homes and commercial buildings with atriums, solariums, sunrooms, and even greenhouse-like interior spaces. They can add beauty and value to any building. But they have also created a need for solar shading systems designed to handle the heat, light, UV rays, and reduced privacy these transparent portals and structures produce.

Yet the size and location of these windows and glass structures can make shading control a challenge. Large expanses of glass may need to be covered – either with one large panel, or with a series of individual panels. Or the window treatment may be needed in a location that is physically in accessible – for example, to control sunlight from a high atrium.

Retractable shades make ideal solutions, providing a beautiful and functional way to handle the downside of sunshine. They can be adjusted in any position from fully open to fully closed for precise control based on light conditions of any given day or time. Retractable shades can reduce cooling costs during the warmer months, protect furnishings, plants, and floors from extensive sun and heat exposure, control glare and add privacy.

Such settings are also ideal for motorized shading systems. With motorized operation, any retractable shade installation can be controlled with a remote unit at the touch of a button. Moreover, a wide range of motorized units enables users to select from a range of solutions. For example, we have motorized shading control systems that work automatically, based on sensors that can track sunlight, heat or other variables. These units can adjust retractable shades by