ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The Air Movement and Control Association International (AMCA) has released a technical paper titled "External Shading Devices in Commercial Buildings - The Impact on Energy Use, Peak Demand and Glare Control," which explains the benefits of sunshade devices, and the impact of external shading devices on energy use, peak demand, and glare conditions in commercial office buildings.

AMCA International collaborated with John Carmody and Kerry Haglund from the Center for Sustainable Building Research at the University of Minnesota, developing a technical publication detailing the benefits of sunshade devices (louvers). The new publication has been completed with the help and guidance from AMCA International's Standard 530 committee members.

The publication highlights the impact of shading devices used in commercial buildings facing east, south, and west orientations of both large and moderate window areas in the differentiating climates of six cities. The association expects the publication to be an invaluable resource for designers, helping to quickly narrow the range of possibilities, interpreting the approximate impacts in commercial office buildings in order to provide general guidance during early stages of design.