Beat the Heat

CHALLENGE:Located in Houston, Christian Brothers Automotive Company’s concrete headquarters building needed features to help combat the harsh Texas summers. The answer: roller shades to deliver improved solar reflection to help corporate building beat the Texas heat. “The heat was obviously brutal, but so was the glare, especially on the east, west and south sides of the building,” said Steve Palmer, president of Creative Blinds, which installed the shades. INFLUENCE:When Christian Brothers Automotive Company (CBAC) built its new corporate headquarters, they wanted to ensure employee productivity and comfort. SOLUTION:In consultation with the CEO of CBAC, Mark Carr, Palmer and his team at Creative Blinds specifi ed Hunter Douglas’ motorized RB 500 roller shades and Mermet’s specially heat-refl ective fabric, T Screen with KOOLBLACK Technology, to help block the intense sun pouring in from all sides of the CBAC headquarters. The design called for motorized shades on the top floor, ensuring ease of use and creating a sharp appearance from both the interior and exterior of the building. “The shades look good, and the employees really like them,” said Carr. “I would estimate it’s probably about 10 or 15 degrees cooler with the T Screen with KOOLBLACK Technology fabric, which allows our team to feel more comfortable and be productive.” The fabrics have been proven to reflect 65% of all solar energy, reducing heat gain, as well as block 91% of visible light to control glare, enhance visual comfort and increase workspace productivity. null