Fenestration systems are estimated to be responsible for 1,790 PJ of primary energy consumption annually in commercial buildings in the US and have significant impact on occupants’ visual and thermal comfort. Window shading devices such as shades and blinds are cost-effective means to reduce energy losses/gains from fenestration systems and provide a comfortable environment in the buildings. Besides being cost effective, these products are less intrusive to install when retrofitting the buildings. To maximize the benefits, however, these products require integrated control strategies. Due to complex modeling process involved, existing control strategies used by shade automation industries, generally are not evaluated for energy and daylighting benefits. This paper presents the impacts of shading devices on various aspects of built environment using a comprehensive simulation study. The simulation is performed using a framework enabling automation of daylight and energy simulation and their interaction as well as result post-processing. The results from the simulation show that the control strategies enabled annual cooling and lighting energy savings of up to 40% and 25% respectively. The impact of different shading types, controls and climate conditions on the energy savings results is analyzed. The results of the impact of this technology on energy consumption, daylighting, and occupant comfort from this study will help building owners, designers, engineers, and utilities make informed decisions
