Curtains help with heat retention by limiting the flow of air between the warm and cold areas of a room. Even double-glazed windows will afford heat with a chance to escape, but a set of heavy curtains will form a barrier that'll limit the flow of air from the main room to the window.
Closing curtains at night can reduce heat loss by up to 17 percent. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, using curtains with thermal lining can reduce heat loss by up to 25 percent. Using curtains with white plastic backings can reduce heat gain by up to 33 percent.
The clever use of blinds, curtains, and other window treatments can help keep your house cool and your bills in check. The Department of Energy says the smart management of window coverings can reduce heat gain by up to 77 percent. (And, as a bonus, these same practices can reduce heat loss in the winter.)
Smart Home Cooling Tips. Close your blinds and curtains. Keeping your blinds closed during the day will reflect a surprising amount of heat radiating in through windows, especially during the time of day when the sun's rays shine directly on your home.
Blackout curtains and shades will reduce the amount of heat which is transferred via your windows by as much as 24 percent, keeping the rooms where they're installed cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
Radiator covers, long curtains and furniture can all prevent the heat from being pushed around a room effectively.
close pale-coloured curtains – closing dark curtains and metal blinds can make rooms hotter. keep windows closed when it's hotter outside than inside, but open them if the room gets too hot. open windows at night when the air is cooler, but close ground floor windows when you leave the house or go to bed.
If you take blackout curtains at face value, you're probably only using them to keep light out — and they're great at that task! But the light-blocking window treatments are actually excellent thermal insulators as well, working hard to keep the temperature steady in your home.
Closing doors, windows and curtains during the heat of the day can help the house stay cooler than outside. Ceiling fans provide air movement to make you feel cooler.
Not only will you save on your energy costs by closing the curtains on the sunny side of your home, but you'll be giving the environment a helping hand by reducing the ozone-depleting gases emitted by air conditioners.
Blackout curtains can trap heat in during the winter and keep light and heat out during the summer. 10-25% of thermal energy loss goes out the windows. Blackout curtains can curtail this loss by a 25%, reducing your utility bills and greenhouse gases.
For heavy-duty heat blocking, you'll want thermal drapes that are made with thick materials like polyester and microfiber. These also resist moisture and will minimize it from accumulating in between the window and curtain.
Curtains offer better insulation and soundproofing.
In warm weather, however, blinds beat curtains in energy efficiency. Because blinds leak more heat from a room, they also decrease indoor heat gain more efficiently in the summer, by around 45 percent, which can lower your AC bills.
These lightweight beauties could be considered the perfect window covering for many reasons. Not only do they offer daytime privacy, diffuse bright light and offer a degree of insulation against heat and cold, but they do it all at the same time as softening rooms with their floaty, textural appearance.
Close curtains and blinds
If you're on a budget consider only thermal lining the rooms with direct sun. White or light coloured curtains and blinds are better at reflecting heat and light away from your home. If you have thick, dark curtains, closing them will only trap heat in the room.
Closing curtains at night traps that heat in your home, and you'll be able to turn the thermostat down and use less heating. Both of these methods reduce the strain on your home's heating and air conditioning system, saving significant energy and money.
Additionally, thick curtains hanging over a rad may actually hinder heat from circulating evenly around your room and could cause you to turn the heat up to compensate. Increased use of energy would increase your heating bills. Decorative hanging drapes should also be kept well clear of radiators.
Curtains can catch fire from electric radiators if the radiator is close to a curtain made of flammable material. Water radiators usually don't get hot enough to cause curtains to catch fire, but the radiator could still burn any fragile materials nearby.
Floor-length curtains hung in front of a smaller radiator may be able to close with the help of extended brackets that hold the curtains away from the wall. Woven shades + floor-length curtains. This combination is good when you want a more finished look, like in a formal dining room.
Ideally, you should use both types of curtains and change them from the cold to the warm season. Blackout curtains will keep your house cooler during the sizzling hot summer days, while thermal curtains will keep warmth from escaping out of the windows.
Curtains or drapes can help insulate your rooms as they reduce the amount of air exchange between a cold window and the rest of the room.
In the past, radiators have often been located under the window in a room because this is the coldest area in the room. Historically, older windows would be single glazed, and this type of window used to let a lot of cold air into the room.