Roller screens help reduce aircon costs

Researchers at the international laboratory specialising in building environments chose six hypothetical routes and it was established that one vessel type, with a large wheelhouse on one particular route could save upwards of 81% of the wheelhouse air conditioning power consumption. On another vessel type, again with a large wheelhouse but on a different route, just over $1,000 per annum could be saved that would go towards the initial cost of installing the screens.

Just as importantly for the vessel managers, these significant reductions in power will directly improve a vessel’s carbon footprint due to the associated reduction in green house gas emissions.

John Lightfoot, Solar Solve’s chairman commented, “When these products were originally launched, their ability to reduce glare and absorb uv light were considered to be the main benefits because they improved the crew’s working environment, so they were marketed as a Navigation Safety Aid.”

“We have always known and promoted the fact that the use of Solasolv roller screens saves on air conditioning costs but we have never been able to quantify the claim. While these laboratory test results are by nature hypothetical, at least they now give some credence to our statements.”