In today’s economy, you’re wise to consider how you might conserve energy and reduce your electricity bills when deciding on the right types of home improvement projects to take on. I work with a lot of homeowners, who wish they could create a more sustainable and comfortable environment in their homes. I often recommend various window coverings, which can not only improve the aesthetics of each room but also reduce your energy usage (and your utility bills).
Some of the most energy-efficient window coverings include:
- Honeycomb shades
- Insulated curtains
- Window films
- Motorized shades
- Light-blocking blinds
If you’re ready to upgrade your window coverings and want to reduce your energy consumption at the same time, let’s go over these options.
Honeycomb Shades
Honeycomb shades, also called cellular shades, are thermally efficient and also budget-friendly. The shades have honeycomb-shaped cells, which bear some resemblance to the cells of a beehive. They come in various layers, and their level of energy efficiency will depend on whether you choose a single layer or multiple layers for your blinds.
The way they work is to create air pockets in each of the cells. Those air pockets act as a barrier to hot or cold air, so they’ll keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. They also come in a variety of colors, textures, and materials to complement your style.
Insulated Curtains
Darkening rooms tend to keep them cooler, and insulated curtains are a great choice for those who like the look of draperies. These have multiple layers of fabric, often including a thermal lining of some type on the inside.
Keeping your curtains closed during the hottest part of the day in the summer can keep the sun out. Conversely, keeping them open during the warmest part of winter days, then closing them after the sun sets, can help keep the warmth in the home at night – leading to lower heating bills.
Window Films
If you like the look of bare windows or you don’t want an obvious window covering, you might consider window films. They consist of transparent material placed directly on the surface of the glass. They can be tinted in a variety of opacities, ranging from almost completely clear to quite dark. They also come in mirrored varieties, which creates a mirror effect outside to help deflect sunlight out of the room.
Motorized Shades
If you tend to forget to close your shades or if you have some that are located on high windows that you can’t reach easily, motorized shades might be a good option. My clients love being able to open and close their shades with just the touch of a button.
The main eco-friendly and efficient benefit here is that you’ll be able to take advantage of the sun or block it out – depending on whether you want to warm or cool your rooms.
Light-Blocking Blinds
Similar to light-blocking curtains, these blinds are good for directing the sunlight in or out of a room depending on the time of day, time of year, and individual preference. These can be controlled via a motorized system, or you can open and close them manually.
Blinds are a good choice for larger windows, such as a slider or a picture window that gets a lot of sunlight during the warmest part of the day. They can be turned to reflect some or all of the light, so you can still take advantage of natural daylight without having to accept all of the heat that goes along with it.
Conclusion
Keeping your windows covered appropriately will help control summertime temperatures from soaring in your home. They’ll also help in the winter, when you might want to take advantage of the daytime sun on chilly days to avoid turning on the heat. Better Homes & Gardens has additional tips for helping to control air conditioning costs during the warmer months. If you’d like to explore different window coverings for your home, I invite you to give me a call, so a member of my team can meet with you to show you some excellent window treatment options.