If you can believe it, there are window coverings that may make your house more pleasant while also lowering your energy expenditures. Though natural light is never something we want to complain about, it may heat up and become suffocating during the warmest months of the year. When the sun’s energy strikes your windows, it heats the interior of your home in two ways: conduction and radiation. Conduction happens when the heat from the sun heats the glass, which then warms the air around the window (which leads to another effect, called convection, that naturally circulates the heated air). Radiation, or radiant heat, on the other hand, is created by sunlight impacting items in the room; everything the light touches will warm up despite the outside temperature. Solar energy that warms your home is referred to as “solar heat gain.” This raises your summer energy expenditures by requiring you to operate your air conditioning or fans more frequently. Solar heat gain can be reduced by restricting light and/or insulating the space from the sun’s heat. That doesn’t mean you have to live in the dark or give up your views of the outdoors to remain cool. The versatility of energy-saving window coverings allows you to enjoy the view, sunlight, and pleasant breezes when you choose while preventing heat and harmful UV rays that degrade textiles, rugs, and other materials in your house. With that being said, here are 5 window covering types that will help keep the warm inside your home.
Indoor Window Shutters
When closed, interior window shutters sit directly inside the window frame, totally blocking the view. They are built of sturdy materials like wood, imitation wood, and vinyl. They can assist trap hot air between the glass and the shutters, preventing it from entering your room, because they are built of heavy materials. During the summer heat, the slats or louvres may be entirely closed to prevent scorching, direct sunlight, making you feel cooler. You may also adjust the shutters by twisting the louvres up and down until they are half open. This allows some light in while blocking out direct UV rays, but it does not trap heat, so your room may feel a little warmer. Louvred indoor shutters may also swing open to bring in natural light during the day.
Insulated Cellular Shades
Cellular shades, also known as honeycomb shades, feature a large number of vertically stacked air pockets called cells that provide insulation. Installing cellular shades is a great method to filter bright sunlight in the summer, but they also assist provide insulation to draughty windows that let in chilly air in the winter. The pockets trap warmer air in your house during the winter months, while in the summer, they hold cooler, air-conditioned air in your room while helping to shield the heat from the sun. The energy efficiency of these window blinds is affected by cell size, with bigger cells giving better energy efficiency since they can trap more air. Double-cell shades provide more sun protection, although single-cell shades, which are often less expensive, can still be useful, especially in temperate locations. You may even acquire triple-cell shades if you live in a harsh area and want maximum energy efficiency. Cellular shades are suitable for most rooms and are available in a number of opacity levels, including blackout, as well as a choice of colours to complement your décor. Cordless models are safer for children and dogs, and they have a cleaner appearance. Because they are constructed of fabric, they may collect moisture and scents, making them unsuitable for too humid environments or kitchens, where they are subjected to both moisture and odours from cooking.
Roller Shades
Roller shades are basic window treatments that roll up and down a tube at the top of the window. The sun shade, for example, is meant to filter UV radiation. They are composed of a densely woven mesh material that protects your inside from UV radiation. Even when the solar blinds are closed, there is some light in the room and you can enjoy the vistas beyond your house. These solar blinds are available in a variety of openness levels ranging from 0 to 14 percent. On the low end, up to roughly 5%, you get the maximum privacy and UV ray and heat protection, but you can’t see much through the shades. Medium openness levels vary from roughly 7 to 10%, providing you a little more of a view while still protecting your home’s finishes from UV damage. The maximum openness levels, up to 14 percent, provide the finest vistas, although they are generally utilised for glare reduction rather than blocking a significant amount of heat and UV radiation. Because they reflect light away from your windows, light-colored solar blinds are ideal for heat control. Darker shades are better for glare management, but they also aid with heat control a bit.
Louvered Window Blinds
Louvered window blinds comprise all sorts of blinds with adjustable slats. While they do not prevent heat loss as well as other window coverings, they can allow you to restrict direct sunlight entering your house and can minimise glare. Reflective blinds can aid on hot, sunny days by reflecting the sun’s rays and reducing heat transmission through the windows. Because the slats can be adjusted to different angles, you have more control over how much light enters the room.
Curtains and Drapes
Heavier curtains and drapes can help deflect sunshine heat, making your house more pleasant. The fabric you choose influences how well your drapes or curtains control heat gain. Light-colored materials help reflect light, which can help keep your house cooler in the summer, whereas darker hues trap heat within your home, which may help make your home warmer in the winter. Choose draperies with a light-colored backing to assist reflect light if you want dark-colored drapes to compliment your space. Tight-woven fabrics are also better at limiting heat transmission, which helps keep your space cooler. Lightweight materials with a looser weave don’t do much to keep you cool in the summer. Sheer and semi-sheer curtains are examples of window coverings that lack cooling power. Because they are lined and have a tight weave, room-darkening and blackout curtains provide the finest heat regulation in your room.
If you want to save money as a homeowner, investing in window coverings that would trap the hot/cold air in your home is a good way to start. These types of window coverings will allow your heating and cooling system to not work as hard, as the wanted air temperature will be achieved with the help of the coverings. Some types of window coverings that will help trap the warm air in your home include indoor window shutters, insulated cellular shades, roller shades, louvred window blinds and curtains and drapes. If you are interested in installing new window coverings, talk to a local, trusted window contractor today!