Year-round residential comfort in Ávila
Ensuring suitable indoor environmental conditions is essential in buildings designed for student accommodation. At this student residence in Ávila, direct solar radiation affected numerous bedrooms and communal areas, causing significant increases in temperature at certain times of the year and reducing occupant comfort.
Solarcheck approached the project with the aim of optimising the thermal performance of the glazed building envelope without excessively compromising natural daylight, a key factor in spaces designed for studying, resting and socialising.
The selected solution was the high-efficiency Sentinel Plus Stainless Steel 15 solar control window film, particularly suitable for combining excellent solar control performance with a neutral and elegant appearance.
This film delivers outstanding thermal performance, rejecting up to 82% of total solar energy (TSER) and significantly reducing solar heat gain. It also rejects up to 81% of infrared radiation, helping to maintain more stable indoor temperatures even under conditions of intense solar exposure.
In terms of visual comfort, the solution provides up to 85% glare reduction, significantly improving comfort within the rooms while still allowing natural daylight to enter. Its moderate visible light transmission (approximately 12–13%) provides an effective balance between solar protection and indoor lighting, helping to create comfortable environments for studying.
In addition, the film blocks more than 99% of ultraviolet radiation, effectively protecting furniture, textiles and interior finishes against fading and premature ageing. Its spectral selectivity (SSI up to 0.69) and favourable g-value of up to 0.18 further enhance its overall energy efficiency.
Thanks to this intervention, the residence has significantly reduced the thermal load in the most exposed areas, creating more comfortable spaces during periods of peak solar exposure. This improvement has reduced the intensive use of HVAC systems, optimising energy consumption and lowering the building’s operating costs.
As a result, the student residence now benefits from more efficient and sustainable facilities that are better aligned with current requirements for comfort and well-being within the student community, while maintaining a carefully considered and contemporary architectural appearance.
