Cut Energy Costs With the Right Window Treatment

Posted on Oct 10, 2012 in Green Products by Contributing Writer 2 Comments

Window treatments are excellent aesthetic additions to any room in your house; however, window treatments are not mere interior decorations. The right window treatments can also reduce energy use in your home. Choosing the right covering will not only enhance the interior decor of your property, but will also help reduce heat loss during the cold season and prevent heat gain during the warmer months. Other benefits may include:

Reduced energy consumption during the summer months
Lower energy consumption and costs
Result to lesser fading of your interior furnishings
Consistent and comfortable indoor temperature

How Can Window Treatments Reduce Energy Costs?

A lot of homeowners are now able to cut their energy costs by as much as 50%. There are a lot of ways to achieve this, such as unplugging unused electronics, cleaning the air filter in the dryer regularly, and choosing the right window coverings. A lot of families find it very surprising that they are able to save money by adding the right window treatment in any of the rooms in their house.

It may seem strange, but the reason behind this is rather very simple. The right window treatments can help reflect the light of the sun during the summer; thus it keeps the air-conditioner turned off. It also allows some sunlight and heat through the slats of shutters during colder months which can keep the room warm for a longer period. Reducing the use of heating and air-conditioning systems will result to lower energy consumption and energy bills. This will eventually lead to a huge difference in your savings.

Energy-Efficient Window Treatments

There are a number of different window treatments that can be an excellent aesthetic addition to any room in your property. In addition to enhancing the interior decor of a room, window treatments can also reduce energy costs. Here are some of the energy-efficient window treatments you can consider.

Awnings: Window awnings can reduce heat gain during the summer by up to 65% and 75% for south-facing and west-facing windows. Today, you can choose an awning that is made from synthetic fibers, such as acrylic and polyvinyl laminates which are both water-repellant and mildew resistant. There are awnings with openings along the tops and sides so that there will be proper ventilation to keep hot air from being trapped around the window. There are also retractable and adjustable awnings which are perfect for the winter season since it allows some heat and sunlight in, warming the entire room.

Blinds: This type of window treatment is very effective at reducing heat gain during the summer, but not very effective in heat loss during winter.

Interior blinds: This type of blinds has a number of openings between the slats, which makes it difficult to control heat loss during winter; however, the slats are perfect for the summer. It can be adjusted to control light and ventilation. For instance, if the blinds are completely shut and lowered during sunny days, reflective blinds can reduce heat gain by 45%.
Exterior blinds: This type of window blinds are typically made of wood, aluminum, vinyl, or steel. Lowering the blinds can provide shading for the entire room. If it is partially raised, the blinds will allow some air and light into the room.

Shades: This window treatment must be installed near the glass, and the sides of the shade must be close to the wall to create a sealed air space. For better energy-efficiency, you can use dual shades: highly reflective on one side and heat absorbing on the other side. The reflective surface must face the warmer side.

Shutters: There are interior and exterior shutters that can help reduce heat gain and heat loss in your home. Aside from energy-efficiency, this type of window treatment can also offer other advantages, such as: protection from the weather, extra layer of security, and no thermal shock to closed windows.

These are just some of the window treatments that you can take into account if you want to save energy costs in your home. You must identify which type of window treatment can best provide you with higher energy savings at the least possible cost.

—

Kris Lim is an interior designer who offers tips and guidelines on how to create an energy-efficient space at home. She provides tips concerning the use of window treatments, such as roller shades in San Jose to cut energy costs at home.