This system can pull up to 44 lbs. with a single motor, and it can also be hand-drawn. Simply plug this system into the slim-designed solar accumulator, then control up to six systems or six groups of systems by radio remote. No electrician is necessary, and installation is fast and easy. The solar accumulator is designed for maximum solar collection while cleverly hidden by the drapery. Like all BTX systems, the Tumo Xcel Eco-line features flexible control options, including switch, RF remote and network control through dry contact closure, making it ideal for many different applications.

PVC-Free fabrics are the most common in the realm of ecologically responsible fabrics for shading. PVC stands for Polyvinyl Chloride and is used in making a lot of shades because it makes them much more durable. So durable, in fact, that they are hard to destroy, are in no way biodegradable. The additives used in creation of the fabrics off-gas resulting in an odor that many liken to the “new car smell”. This is not something you’d typically want used for shading in a baby nursery! PVC-Free fabrics  do not contain these additives and don’t have the odor that goes along with them. The trade off is bit less in stiffness, durability, and the sizes with which the fabric can be cut without railroading. However, for shades in the home this is often not an issue.

Another choice is fabric made of 100% recyclable materials. These are made in wholly from materials containing reused, reconditioned, or remanufactured materials. The benefits here are doubled as there’s less material going into landfills, and less need for the original materials. This type of fabric is unfortunately all that common.

The Greenguard Environmental Institute has created a certification for fabrics to guarantee the textiles and materials used for furnishings contain a minimal or zero contaminants that may have a significant impact in air quality. Shade fabrics with Greengaurd certification will not off-gas. Greenguard tested over 75,000 toxins and chemicals in fabrics made all over the world. The certification is accepted by many environmental organizations in the US, including Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS), and Green Guide for Healthcare (GGHC). Many specifiers for jobs in schools and healthcare facilities will insist on Greenguard certified fabrics.

The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is an indepenent and worldwide organization that with various tests certifies fabrics to be clear of any harmful concentrations of potentially dangerous chemicals.  The substances have to be non-existent or at very minimal levels to be considered for this certification. The certification lasts 12 months, which means products issued the certification must ensure continuos compliance with the standard.

Advanced Shading can help specifiers of jobs find appropriate fabrics with the colors, styles, and properties  they desire while still maintaining a high level of conformity to green building.

It’s not as if they’ll be in trouble from the lack of sales in this sector. Every year you hear of more and more companies being taken over by Hunter Douglas, as they seek to expand their market even further. This could possibly be an effort to reorganize, regroup, and strategize with so many more avenues for sales than they had when they first sold online. In our opinion,  the result will be to bring the brand a higher level of esteem as sales will be made through exclusive brick and mortar retailers and possibly specialty contractors like ourselves.

What’s also interesting is that this Netherlands based firm seems to be going against the grain. More window covering manufacturers seem to be ramping up or joining in the internet market where it was a gray area before. For instance, Lutron Shading announced last year a new internet sales program for approved sales partners.

Straight system Silent Gliss 2700 will be replacing the current Silent Gliss 2500 system; features are a smoother and more silent operation through newly designed carriers and tracks.

The system 2730 is the first of its kind in the world. Not only does it offer the same advantages as system 2700, it’s tracks are even bendable. With its calm and trendy design, this system can also be used as design element or room divider.

Click to view the Launch Brochure 2700 & 2730 Flex

Cable guided roller shade
Allows roller shades to operate in slightly angled applications and prevents unwanted shade movement in locations with strong airflow. Coming soon! Watch this space for any news.

We’re often asked about the ability to take an existing Roman or Soft-Shade and motorize it using any number of systems. It’s something we specialize in! We can take practically any roman shade and make it into the perfect automated system for you, whether you prefer a Lutron, Somfy, BTX, Nice, or other motor and interface, we can do it! Reach us on our contact page for assistance on your project.

This white paper analyzes the total installation cost of line voltage AC and low voltage Sivoia QS shading systems. Various AC and Sivoia QS systems were designed, quoted and compared; yielding hard data that challenges the common high-cost perception of low voltage systems.
 
Beyond the potential savings of Sivoia QS, the paper also considers important issues related to shading systems, such as space churn and
lighting control integration.
 
The full study, P/N 367-1679, is available here.

Not only is this system elegant and flexible, but it is very strong. Depending on requirements, it can be fitted with a motor capable of lifting fabric loads up to 150 lbs. Separate tube sections can be coupled onto a main tube section that carries the motor. This way the system can span as much as 27 ft. of width covered by uninterrupted Roman shade fabric.

BTX offers the B9 operating systems built to size and specification and are mounted onto a wooden base frame for your easy attachment of your fabric of choice. Lift points positioned to specification are easily adjustable to ensure smooth, even lift. BTX offers a wide choice of operating controls such as IR and RF remote controls, timers, sensors and interfaces for seamless integration with most home network controls.

Lutron’s website doesn’t show any information on this new keypad yet, but it will be a welcome addition to the QS family of products, as many prefer the seeTouch style to the currently available “Pico” control modules. If you’d like us to let you know when we get more info or when it’s ready to be ordered, contact us here.

Lutron is calling this new collection of products “The Avant Collection”, which also includes a new range of fabrics, cornices, and drapery panels. These systems can be controlled with Sivoia QED or Sivoia QS.

Download the Avant Brochure PDF