Sun Control Pergolas
In the video, solar-e.com Director Garry Baverstock (with a voice cameo from his wife Julia) explains the benefits of a solar control pergola known as the Tecto pergola. Check out our pergola shop. |
Sun Control Pergolas have been used since medieval times, but it wasn’t until recently during the 1970’s in America and particularly in Australia that solar housing specialists began introducing the concept into solar house design. Associate Professor John Ballinger, founder of the National Solar Architecture Research unit (SOLARCH), extended slatted timber pergolas on a series of experimental houses at Bonnyrigg, New South Wales in that period.
Tecto pergola system
In 1978, solar architect Garry Baverstock began designing sun control pergolas. He also started promoting the idea at seminars and spent the next 10 years developing the “Tecto Pergola” systems in cedar. At a similar time, thinker, entrepreneur and innovator, Daryl Lambhert (in South Australia) developed a shaped batten – a low cost product which could be installed by home owners easily by following a few simple instructions. Daryl had the vision and foresight in registering “solar pergola” as a trademark.
The tecto pergola is a system of permanently fixed sun screening blades. The angled timber blades are designed so that in summer when the sun is at its highest point the sun’s rays bounce off the blades, shading the ground, walls and windows of your house. In winter the lower sun angle allows direct radiation through to the interior of your house, giving you a natural heat gain where it is most needed.
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REFERENCES:
1) http://www.sun-controller.com/home.htm
2) http://www.homeimprovementpages.com.au/home_improvement_outdoor/Pergola
3) http://www.sun-controller.com/pergolas/tecto.htm
