PRISM: Smarter Shading with Measurable Impact
In schools, offices, and care facilities, daylight is more than just illumination - it’s a key factor in energy efficiency, comfort, and productivity. Yet, many buildings struggle to balance these benefits. Comfort often comes at the cost of energy efficiency, and sustainability goals can be hard to meet.
Turning Challenges into Smart Solutions
Dynamic Solar Shading (DSS) uses intelligent automation to enhance building performance - keeping out excess heat in summer to reduce HVAC use and optimising daylight in winter, preventing glare while maintaining outdoor views.
The result? A comfortable indoor environment all year round with lower energy consumption.
But how can we measure the impact of DSS for a specific building, in a specific location?
PRISM: Data-driven decisions for future ready buildings
PRISM changes the way we consider daylight and solar shading. It arms designers, developers, and investors with insights into how DSS can improve classrooms for better learning, care facilities for greater wellbeing, and offices for enhanced productivity. With PRISM, you can see the impact before making an investment - providing certainty and peace of mind from day one.
From Vision to Innovation
At the start of the PRISM journey, Somfy recognised a gap: DSS had great potential, but its benefits were often hard to quantify. To solve this, they partnered with DGMR and bba binnenmilieu - leaders in sustainability and environmental consulting.
Together, they asked:
"What if we could provide clear, data-driven insights to make sustainable, comfortable buildings the standard?"
The result? PRISM - a powerful tool that turns concepts into measurable data. By evaluating energy savings, carbon impact, and occupant wellbeing, PRISM helps industry professionals make informed decisions for smarter buildings.
A Solution for Today’s Challenges
Buildings play a major role in sustainability and wellbeing:
🌍 Net Zero Goals – Buildings contribute to 36% of Europe’s carbon emissions. Sustainability isn’t optional, it’s essential.
🏢 Occupant Expectations – People demand spaces that support health and productivity.
⚡ Rising Energy Costs – Smarter solutions help manage operational expenses.
🏗️ Aging Infrastructure – Existing buildings must meet modern performance standards.
DSS offers a simple, powerful solution. PRISM makes its impact measurable - helping reduce reliance on HVAC, improve comfort, and support carbon reduction strategies.
Tailored for Every Space
Unique buildings have unique needs. PRISM offers specialised insights for:
✔ Schools – Reducing overheating and glare to create optimal learning environments while lowering energy costs. PRISM helps schools understand how their investment in DSS can meet and exceed regulations.
✔ Care Facilities – Ensuring thermal and visual comfort to support health and wellbeing. PRISM allows decision-makers to select the best DSS solutions, based on their own specific needs and priorities.
✔ Offices – DSS can balance energy efficiency with employee comfort and productivity. PRISM provides ROI insights, demonstrating the financial benefits of DSS.
✔ Residential – Reducing overheating in our homes, a growing and urgent challenge for many homeowners and tenants. PRISM shows the energy benefits of DSS when it comes to managing comfort in the home.
Partners in Innovation
PRISM is the result of a collaboration between Somfy, DGMR, and bba binnenmilieu - leaders in sustainable design and data-driven solutions. Together, we’re redefining building performance and making smart, comfortable design accessible to all.
See the Impact. Make Informed Choices. Build Better.