In the Mediterranean region facade shading systems are used to reduce operational energy, particularly cooling loads. However, operational savings do not necessarily translate into net energy savings unless they outweigh the embodied energy/carbon required to manufacture, install, maintain, and dispose of these systems. This study analyses two shading devices, louvers and meshes, from a whole-life perspective in Malta. We first establish, through dynamic energy modelling, the operational energy and carbon savings achieved, and results show that both louvers and meshes are capable of savings in terms of operational energy-20%-40% compared to the base case. Secondly, we establish the embodied energy and carbon through a life cycle analysis. Although based on the limited data available for Malta, findings suggest that net energy and carbon savings are only achieved by two of the 22 configurations investigated, both mesh systems. These results highlight the urgent need to investigate shading systems to establish net energy and carbon whole-life balances. The risk is otherwise that we will save less operational energy in the future, from decarbonised energy grids, than we have already spent through a surge of embodied energy from current, carbon intensive grids, therefore exacerbating the climate crisis. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.