HeatSaver thermal roman blinds

STOP PRESS – latest from Grand Designs Live

Our display text from Kevin

A surprise email arrived in my in-box from Kevin McCloud in mid March 2010.

… You may have heard of Grand Designs Live, the exhibition that runs for nine days every Spring at Excel in London and which reflects the values of the television series.  We attract over 100,000 visitors, host over 500 exhibitors, run a packed seminar series and show finished houses and examples of new, sustainable construction.

I’m delighted to say that this year we are ramping up the ecological side even more.  One new event,  which has been monikered ‘Kevin’s Green Heroes‘,  is an exhibition, running up the central aisle, of ten products and ideas that are on the market but which have not yet received the recognition they deserve.

…  I would very much like your insulated blinds to be included this year and I’m hoping you’ll allow them to be shown.

Last week I got confirmation, what a fantastic opportunity! Today I’m putting together a frame to hold the sample blind I have.

From the Grand Designs Live website;

Kevin McCloud has personally chosen ten products or inventions that he feels deserve wider recognition. Some of these left-field ideas may not have hit the high street yet and some are already on a high street  but are some of the best-kept green secrets around! We’re hoping that Grand Designs Live will give them some wider exposure  and raise awareness of the environmental issues that prompted their invention.

Kevin’s Green Heroes will be situated in the Design Arcade, the main avenue towards the seminar theatre.  Each of the ten products will be on display for you to see.

So, hope to see you there! 1^st – 9^th May 2010, Excel London, you will find us at the end of the Design Arcade nearest to the Grand Village.

Grand Design TV Shows

Kevin’s ‘Slumming It’ show

More about Kevin

Q&A from Grand Designs Live

1)             What makes this product so environmentally friendly?

Windows are one of the major sources of heat loss and CO2 emissions from any building. Alongside draught-stripping & loft insulation these thermal roman blinds reduce heat loss and energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint.

2)             What are the benefits of this product to individual users over other products?

There are no equivalent products to our knowledge in the UK. Most blinds claiming to have thermal properties only have a single layer of fabric and do not seal to the window frame. The combination of reflective layers (Mylar is a ‘space blanket’) & a thermal core (as used in thermal gloves) is unique to HeatSaver Shades.

3)             What/who inspired you to design this product?

The blinds were designed in the US as a result of the oil crisis in the 70’s. As oil prices reduced they went out of production but the business has recently been revived as climate change & peak oil issues become well understood.

4)             What developments do you have in mind for this product?

We aim to set up a UK manufacturing business to avoid shipping & import costs and to reduce the cost of the blinds to customers. The National Physics Lab will be performing a hot-box test on the blinds in summer 2010 to verify the thermal performance. 42 blinds are to be fitted in five properties as part of the government sponsored ‘Retrofit fir the Future’ project. The homes will be monitored for two years by the Energy Saving Trust to test performance.

UPDATE:
The frame & curtains are finished, many thanks to Nick Reynolds, for use of his workshop & Camilla Gavin (01373 813429) for making up the curtains. I’ve sorted out the samples & cards, now all I need is the amazing pole ends from Sarah Hewett & I think we’re ready to roll!

Camilla finishes the curtains

LATEST UPDATE FROM GDL

The Show is huge & there are some great talks & inspiring ideas. The display for the Green Heroes looks amazing & we have hundreds walking past.

HeatSaver display on the left

Good interest in the stand at Grand Designs Live

More images on our Facebook page.

My daughters video of the event.