Improved Solar Shade (ISS) with Enhanced Durability and Performance

Solar shading is used by the military in many different field applications as a cost effective approach to reduce fuel consumption for climate control in expeditionary shelters. These relatively simple, low cost shades offer one of the most significant energy saving solutions for expeditionary shelters in warm climates, providing greater than 70% solar block capability and an air gap (convective cooling) between the shade and the covered object which greatly lowers the effects of solar heating. However, due to the harsh service and environmental conditions, the current solar shade systems lack durability and typically only last through about one year of service. Therefore, a new solar shade material is desired that is still lightweight with the same or improved solar shading and energy saving potential, yet be more durable so the service life can extended to at least four years. METSS will address this challenge under the proposed program by modifying the textile design and improving the environmental resistance of the materials used in the solar shade construction to develop improved solar shade material that are more durable and capable of withstanding the harsh physical and environmental conditions to which these structures are exposed.