Window coverings like shades, blinds, shutters, and other window treatments can make your home energy-efficient by providing energy loss through windows. Your windows can be the drains that can cause up to 30% of energy loss. Installing right window treatments can significantly improve your home comfort by maintaining indoor temperature. Effectiveness of the window treatments results in lowering your energy bills by preventing solar heat gain and maintaining the optimum indoor temperatures for an extended time period.
Listed below are some top energy-efficient window treatments for your home and office.
1. Insulated Cellular Shades:
Insulated cellular shades, also called honeycomb shades, are equipped with one or more layers that trap air. The air pockets act as insulators that prevent conduction of heat through the window. These shades have the highest R-value as compared to rest of the window coverings. In winter, cellular shades can save 20% of heat energy while in summer, they can prevent 80% of the solar heat from entering your home through windows. Moreover, they can be adjusted to control the daylight entering your home.
2. Blinds:
Blinds come in both vertical and horizontal slat-type. They are useful for reducing heat gain in summer. Numerous slats opening in blinds make them a convenient option for summer. Unlike shades, you can tilt the slats to control the glare and daylight entering your home. Highly reflectiveblinds can minimize the heat gain into your home when completely closed on a sunny window. Select blinds Canada having horizontal slat type can be adjusted to reflect the sunlight towards the ceiling or to block it completely.
3. Curtains and Drapes:
Curtains are fabric window coverings that fit the window size while drapes can reach all the way to floor when dropped down. The ability of drapes to reduce heat gain and loss depends on their fabric type and color. Therefore, the level of energy efficiency they provide varies from type to type. Closed drapes in summer days can prevent heat gain from the windows receiving direct sunlight. In winter, conventional draperies can reduce the heat loss from your warm space by 10%. For maximum effectiveness, hang them close to the windows. Curtains of thick fabric and dark colors can also minimize solar glare and radiation.
4. Window Films:
Window films also act as a protection against UV rays and glare while still allowing some daylight to enlighten your room. They are best suited for those who don’t want to block views with window treatments. They are also the right choice for the window sizes that cannot fit with other window treatments. Films are available in a wide variety of patterns and colors. You can also opt for thicker films, tints, and UV blockers. Low-e films are also becoming a popular energy-saving option. Not only in your residence, but you can also use this commercial window film in your office.
5. Window Quilts:
They are made of quilted material that can be opened by rolling up and closed by unrolling downwards. They offer sung fit, which amplifies their R-value similar to honeycomb shades. They are an inexpensive window treatment option yet they look classy and can be customized to fit with the interior designs of your room.