A wide range of environmental and sustainability factors must be taken into consideration when choosing blinds for hospital and healthcare buildings. Alongside safety, practicality and cost you should consider the energy efficiency, longevity and overall impact the blinds will have on the planet.
Energy Efficiency, Overheating and Climate Control
When choosing blinds for a healthcare environment professionals should consider the contribution that the blinds will make in terms of the building’s energy use and how they will control the temperature within individual rooms. External glazing will need to be specified to minimise heat loss, while at the same time balancing solar gain with the risk of overheating from strong summer sunshine. In the current energy crisis blinds such as integral blinds can help to reduce energy bills and provide a more economic alternative when compared to other blinds on the market.
Aesthetics and Atmosphere
Achieving an internal environment to help patients feel comfortable, relaxed and safe is extremely important, especially as many will be experiencing heightened levels of anxiety. Any decisions about the window or door shading must, therefore, consider the visual impact, how this integrates with the rest of the decor and whether it is suitable for a caring environment where a sense of calm and neutrality matters so much.
A variety of design choices are available to suit your particular aesthetic needs. For example, integral blinds are fitted inside the glass and therefore are an appropriate choice for a hospital as they help to maintain a professional yet hygienic environment.
Enhancing Natural Light
The quality and comfort of individual rooms can be affected by the level of light entering through the windows. Too much bright sunshine will cause glare, which could make a room unbearable for patients and staff. Equally, there are health benefits to having a good level of natural light so it is important to strike a good balance between both of these needs.
For example, many patients may be bedbound and not able to go outside into the sunshine so adjusting the blinds to allow some sunlight into the room may assist them in their road to recovery. The variety of control options available will help you maintain the natural light required.
Longevity, durability and service life
It is essential to consider the longevity of a blind and how much cleaning on a daily basis would require. If a blind is purchased that gets damaged the cost of replacement could be expensive and an unwanted cost for a healthcare provider’s budget. Therefore, it is important to consider the whole life cost when making a procurement decision, rather than just looking for the cheapest initial purchase price to ensure the best value solution is achieved.
