Architect and daylight certification expert, Paul Rogers explores the significance of daylight in our buildings with technical specialist and colleague at ACC Glas och Fasadkonsult, Tony Olsson. They will talk about the regional differences and climate influence in the use of natural light in building design. The discussion highlights how these factors shape decisions around daylight in the built environment, and the vital role of regulation and planning in creating spaces that improve the daily lives of those who live and work in them.

As classrooms across Europe face rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves, preventing overheating has become a critical challenge for school designers, operators and policymakers. In Spain alone, temperatures have already exceeded 43°C this year, underlining the growing need for buildings that can maintain comfortable learning environments during periods of extreme heat. Against this backdrop, a new study conducted by the Universidad del País Vasco and sponsored by AESSO (Asociación Española de Sombreado y Control Solar Dinámico) explores how dynamic solar shading can help schools maintain comfortable learning environments while reducing energy demand.

We asked Ben Vowles, a specification expert specialising in sustainable smart shading design for commercial buildings, to share his experiences of some of the challenges faced in the market. And just why he thinks the UK appears reluctant to follow the lead of the rest of Europe in adopting smart shading as standard.