Insulation is one of the most important considerations we need to think about when it comes to selecting window treatments for your home. Doors and windows are the two sources that let heat, light, and cold enter your home. No matter how extreme the outside weather is, with energy efficient window shades installed on your windows, you can feel comfortable while staying home. This also results in the reduction of energy bills as the usage of your cooling and heating utilities will be reduced. If you have wide and large glass doors that let in a lot of heat and cold inside, make sure you have energy efficient window shades to make your houses energy efficient.
During winter, when the outside temperature is colder than the inside, the heat inside the house gets transferred through the glass windows to the outside and gets disappeared. Having lost the heat, this air close to the windows become dense and cold and moves down pushing in more warm air from above. This process continues till you lose all the heat. Hence blocking the windows with high quality blinds can act as good insulators. Now let us discuss some of the most energy efficient blinds.
- Honeycomb Blinds: the air pockets in these blinds increase insulation and is gaining high popularity as energy efficient blinds
- Roman Blinds: the entire window is covered with thermal lining leaving no space for the heat to escape. You also have a variety of fabric choices to meet your insulation and aesthetic needs and different linings can be used, to ensure the room gets the appropriate block out properties.
- Roller Blinds: based on the direction in which the fabric comes off the roll, you have an option between over roll and under roll. For maximum energy efficiency, under roll is the best option, where the fabric is rolled backwards against the wall which prevents the entry of cold air.
- Venetian and Vertical Blinds: the gaps between each slat reduce the insulation capability of these blinds as it allows warm air to escape through them. As each room has a different requirement of energy efficiency, these least energy efficient blinds can be used in rooms that need little insulation like kitchen, laundry and bathroom.
- Fabric Choice: the choice of fabric depends on whether you need to reduce the light entering your room or for insulation. So, choose the one that is the most appropriate for your requirement.
- Perfect Fit: to improve energy efficiency and provide proper insulation, the blinds need to be a perfect fit with the window frame without any gaps.
- Drapes and Curtains: as the energy efficiency of draperies depend on the type and colour of the fabric, it is very difficult to generalize their energy performance. Closing the drapes on windows that receive direct sunlight during summer reduce heat gain. Also using draperies that are medium coloured with white plastic backing reduce 33% of heat gain. During winter, closing all the drapes at night and those which do not receive sunlight in the day can reduce 10% of heat loss. Hanging these window treatments as close to the window and extending till the floor or a windowsill can also reduce convection. For maximum efficiency, it is best to install the drape against the ceiling or a cornice at the top of the drape and seal all ends using a magnetic tape or Velcro. This can also reduce 25% heat loss. Hanging two draperies instead of one can also be helpful as it creates a tighter air space.
