Saving Energy with Window Treatments and Coverings
Posted by Norman Fong
photo credit: quinn.anya
We are deep in winter and it is very cold in many areas. Having curtains, blinds, or shades on windows can help keep warm air inside. They will also help keep the hot sunlight out during the summer.
Window blinds and shades are pretty cheap, easy to install, and lead to a short payback time.
Well made Insulated curtains can cost from $50 a window to hundreds of dollars, but work a lot better. Payback time is usually measured in years from 3+ years onwards. Be sure to hang curtains as close to the window as possible and cover the entire window. Close your curtains at night to reduce heat loss. Use can use two drapes to maximize efficiency.
US DOE has a nice consumer guide.
All Home Decor – Resources to help decorate and care for your home.
UV Film for Windows – Privacy, Heat Loss Control
UV Films that are placed for Windows can help enhance privacy and minimize Heat Loss. They are easy to apply and relatively inexpensive. Amazon has 3M kits from under $20.
Insulating films add reflect the sun’s rays in summer, keeping the home cooler without using air conditioning. These UV films also help retain up to 55% of your home’s heat in winter. Curtains, flooring, and furniture will fade less due to 99% UV ray blockage.
UV Window films add to the comfort and energy efficiency of your home at a small cost.
Lowes has instructions on how to apply the window UV film yourself.
You can also purchase new windows with built in sun stopping technology.
Filed under: Conservation, Effort, Energy, Home, Medium, Money, Waste | Tags: Window Treatments
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6 Responses to “Saving Energy with Window Treatments and Coverings”
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March 3rd, 2009 at 5:10 am
Window treatments have come a long way – Today’s blinds and shades are not only extremely functional (energy efficient options, child friendly options, easy to clean and operate) but also very stylish.
One option is Odysee™ Fabric Insulating Fabric Blinds from Comfortex Window Fashions. These Insulating Blinds are available in over 800 light filtering or room darkening options. Colors range from soft pastels to bright bold colors (and for those of you beige lovers out there, Odysee also comes in a variety of neutral tones as well).
These shades offer the convenient operation of a wood blind with the soft look and feel of a fabric shade. Odysee will not only go with your rooms, but add additional style to them. The Blinds innovative fully functional vanes compress to offer a clear view and expand to 1″ cells to provide significant insulation for year round energy efficiency.
October 19th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Many homeowners don’t understand the low cost benefits of how much window blinds can make your window energy efficient to save on energy bill. Though its not the real energy efficient window, still homeowners can benefit from this low cost energy efficient investment on their window.
btw great article!
December 5th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
It is useful to use a combination of blinds and curtains. However, if you live in a new house in the UK, having lined and interlined curtains may not be possible as walls can’t always take the weight of the curtains.
July 7th, 2010 at 2:57 am
Another way of looking at this is that in summer the reverse is true.
Closing the curtains and blinds on a sunny window will help keep a room cooler during the day. This is especially true for bedrooms. This means you could get away without running the air conditioning as often thus saving money and the envornment.
October 4th, 2010 at 11:56 am
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