Save Big This Summer: Energy-Efficient Curtains, Blinds and Drapes

Last year we suffered through the sweltering heatwaves of the hottest summer on record – and this year is shaping up to be really burnt out as well. While some people in the US are preparing for rotating blackoutsothers wince as they look at their bank accounts: energy bills aren’t cheap to begin with, and the summer heat can take a big toll on your savings.

If you want to avoid paying up to $500 on those energy bills this summer, while making sure you’re able to stay cool, you’ll want to invest in energy-efficient window fabrics. Different window treatments are one of the easiest ways to invest in the overall energy efficiency of your household.

Ann energy efficient home it gives you comfort, uses fewer resources and saves you money. There are many ways to increase the efficiency of your home, from simple changes like turning off the lights when leaving room for larger projects like installing solar panels. But you may be missing out on one of the most effective and easy ways to save energy.

Window treatments like curtains, blinds, shades and shades have the power to seriously increase energy efficiency. The right window treatments, also called window treatments, can keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. They can also lower your utility costs throughout the year.

“For a typical home, the window area is less than 10% of the total envelope. But the Department of Energy has estimated that windows can account for up to 50 percent of the energy that flows in and out of a home,” said Tom Culp, owner of Birch Point Consulting in Wisconsin and a board member of the nonprofit public interest group Applications Energy Rating Council. “Windows make a huge difference to your home’s energy efficiency and your energy bills.”

How do curtains and blinds save energy?

Window treatments can make your home more energy efficient in several different ways. How they can help and the right window coverings to buy to save energy depend on the time of year and climate where you live.

When it’s cold and dark in the winter, the right window treatments can act as a barrier, preventing heat loss in your home due to leaks or cracks around the windows. They can also prevent cold, drafty air from entering your home.

“You have a lot of energy coming in and out of your home through the windows,” Culp said. “A blind or shade will provide an insulating layer to help block some of this heat loss, especially at night.”

In warm, sunny weather, blinds, shades, foils and other treatments block the sun, keeping your home cooler during the hottest hours of the day. In colder climates, sunlight can be beneficial during the winter and shoulder seasons.

“The sun coming through your window can be good or bad. Where I live in Wisconsin, it helps warm your house and offset your heating costs,” Culp said. “If you’re in the south, maybe the sun isn’t your friend in the summer. A blind or shade can block some of that sunlight and stop extra heat from entering and adding to your air conditioning costs. It really depends on where you are in the country and your specific application.”

Not all window treatments are created equal. To get the most value and find the right product for you, it’s important to understand the different window treatments available.

Insulated cellular blinds

Also called honeycomb shades or cellular shades, these pleated fabric shades are considered the highest performing window treatment option in terms of R-value, which measures the effectiveness of a building’s insulation. Their honeycomb shape creates a layer of air that blocks heat or cold from entering your home. They also have the greatest potential to help you save energy. Insulated cellular blinds reduced energy consumption by 20% in a study conducted by the US Department of Energy.

Thermal curtains

Thermal curtains resemble everyday fabric curtains, but differ significantly from decorative curtains. They are made of multiple layers of thick, insulating fabric designed to trap cool or warm air and prevent leakage or drafts from the windows.

Thermal blinds

Thermal blinds are year-round window treatments that create a heat-reflective barrier on your home’s windows. Like insulated cellular blinds, these blinds often have honeycomb pockets to trap a layer of air that acts as a thermal barrier between the window and your home. An aluminum layer on each side of the blinds reflects heat outside in the summer and into your space in the winter.

Window coverings

A window quilt works the same way as a quilt made for your bed. By sewing layers of fabric together with a layer of insulation in between, a window quilt blocks air from entering or leaving your windows. They also block out the sun completely, making them do double duty as blackout curtains and can help reduce outside noise.

Window coverings are available in roll-up and pull-down models to allow for greater flexibility, although some are designed with Velcro patches or clips to secure the treatment around the four sides of the window.

Window film

Unlike the other window treatments on this list, which are attached to the interior or exterior of your windows to help with energy efficiency, films are applied directly to the glass. Window films reduce heating from the sun’s heat, as well as glare and UV rays, but because they are not adjustable, they are better for warm, sunny climates than cold ones. Because window films are blackout, they provide privacy by allowing you to see outside, unlike curtains and blinds.

Awnings

When attached to your home’s exterior above windows, awnings block sunlight, preventing solar heat from building up in your home. Fixed and adjustable models are available, and you can install a single awning over a window or a longer awning that can shade windows on one side of your house.

Like window film, shades may be a better option for homeowners in warm climates, as blocking the sun will require more energy to heat your home in the winter.

How do you find energy efficient curtains and blinds?

At AERC housing product search page, you can find certified window treatments and even filter and sort to find products that fit your needs and climate. While you probably have an idea of ​​whether your home needs more cooling or heating for most of the year, the organization also has climate zone map which can help you choose whether an AERC cool or warm rating is more appropriate for your home.

You can also look for products with the AERC Energy Improvement Label when shopping in person. everyone rating tag includes a number for how well the product performs in cool climates as well as warm climates.

Regardless of the window attachments you choose, you will achieve the most energy savings when they are regularly adjusted according to outside conditions. That’s what another Department of Energy study found 75% of the joinery remain in the same position every day, and more than half of US households do not adjust their window coverings daily. Culp sees this fact as an opportunity for automation to make energy-efficient window treatments even more efficient.

“What automation can do better than most homeowners is open your windows when it’s convenient for you and close them when it’s not,” he said. “You can control it yourself from an app or it can be set to work optimally. It knows when it will save you the most energy and the most money, so you get better performance.”

Will regular curtains and blinds improve efficiency?

“All window fixtures will make an impact, from basic mini-louver blinds to decorative covers to high-performance insulating cellular blinds,” Culp said.

The curtains or blinds you can pick up from a department store or big box store are not specifically designed for energy efficiency. They may reduce your energy use somewhat, but you’ll likely see a bigger impact on your utility bills with a product that’s labeled as energy efficient and has an AERC rating that makes sense for your home and your climate.

Frequently Asked Questions