About 30% of a home's heating energy is lost through windows. In cooling seasons, about 76% of sunlight that falls on standard double-pane windows enters to become heat. Window coverings can help with this energy loss and lowering energy bills.
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.)
Closing window blinds can also save energy in the winter. During cold winter nights, heat is lost through windows. Closing the blinds adds some insulation to the windows, reducing heat loss during cold periods. Some blinds also reflect heat back into the room.
As has been demonstrated, blinds are very effective at reducing both heating and cooling costs in the house.
How Blinds Help Keep Cold Out. When blinds are measured and fitted properly they insulate your home by trapping a layer of air between the blinds fabric and the window. This effectively seals of your windows so that air can't escape from the windows.
The closer a blind or shade is to the window, the better it will perform as an insulator, so an inside mount blind or shade will provide the most protection from cold drafts.
In short, the answer is yes. Blinds, draperies, and window treatments are an effective method for cutting heating and cooling bills, regulating the temperature of your home, and enhancing its overall appearance.
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.
If you're like most homeowners, you winterize your property, so why not insulate the windows for summer? Seal or block drafts: Weather stripping keeps the elements from seeping through, and those long, slender pillows called draft snakes placed on a windowsill can also ward off heat and cold airflows.
An insulating window film applied over a window can help the window retain up to 55 percent more heat in winter, potentially reducing your heating costs up to 30 percent. These films are less effective at reducing summer heat gain, though.
Thermal window blinds are window dressings that help to prevent cold draughts coming into your home. They can also effectively lock in heat within each room to keep your environment comfortable at all times.
Poor insulation can also cause temperatures to drop inside your home. One of the most obvious signs that you have poor insulation is cold drafts coming from vents, light switches, outlets, and exterior walls. If it's properly insulated, you shouldn't be able to feel any air coming from these areas.
The benefits are significant. Honeycomb shades can block heat about as well as a 1/8 inch sheet of insulated foam. Their R-value (or, their ability to insulate against heat flow) ranges between 2 and 5. In comparison, a typical double pane window has an R-value of 1.8.
You can apply the plastic for windows in two ways, from the inside and the outside of your window. Since adverse weather conditions impact the outside of your window, you should use stronger plastic if you place it there. It needs to withstand strong winds, snow, blizzards, and heavy rains.
Despite the controversy following any DIY homeowner solution, both window companies and repair gurus consider insulation film to be effective. It really works, and it can increase a window's insulation for many months. Additionally, insulation film lets in sunlight—which can further warm a window.
If you are in a pinch, bubble wrap is an excellent insulator for summer windows. Simply spray a light mist of water on your windows, and lay bubble wrap against them to act as another layer of glass. The bubble wrap will stick as long as you need, and it works to keep the hot out and the cold in.
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.
Cellular Shades. Cellular shades, or honeycomb shades, are one of the most energy efficient window coverings you can buy. They use a series of honeycomb-like cell pockets to trap air around your windows, keeping your rooms warm in the winter and cool in the summer.