Suffolk-based solar shading specialist Caribbean Blinds marked Global Shading Day by highlighting the growing need for effective sun protection in UK homes and workplaces.

Global Shading Day, created by the European Solar Shading Organisation, promotes awareness of how solar shading can reduce energy use, cut emissions, and improve comfort and wellbeing. Caribbean Blinds used the occasion to showcase its White Paper, published at the end of 2025, which argues that external shading is now a practical necessity in Britain’s warming climate.

Research for the White Paper shows that 41 per cent of homeowners worry about overheating, yet only 15 per cent cite poor solar shading as a cause. External blinds can block up to 97 per cent of solar gain, lowering indoor temperatures by nearly 20°C. Despite their proven effectiveness across Europe, UK adoption remains limited.

Modern external shading solutions suit sliding doors, rooflights, conservatories, and pergolas, offering options from blackout fabrics for bedrooms to mesh materials that maintain outdoor views, all with minimal maintenance.

“Large windows and bifold doors are popular but let in a lot of heat,” says Stuart Dantzic, Managing Director of Caribbean Blinds. “External blinds stop heat at source. They are simple, effective, and underappreciated, and understanding them could transform UK homes this summer and beyond.”