Window blinds—vertical (Venetian blinds) or horizontal slat-type (louvered-type)—are effective at reducing summer heat gain and reducing glare, while providing good daylight indoors.
Window blinds can help to keep more of your central heating inside of the house during the winter, and so it stands to reason that they can also help to keep more of the sun (and so, heat) outside of the house in the summer, for the 5-7 hot days of the year during which this tends to be a significant problem here in ...
Blinds can reduce heat gain by 45% for a significant increase in energy performance. Energy efficiency isn't the only consideration, though —curtains can offer better soundproofing than blinds, as well as add an elegant, luxurious feel to your home's décor.
According to University of Salford researchers, drawing the curtains at dusk will minimize heat loss by 15-17 per cent. The number for blinds is a little lower, at 13-14 per cent, but the gap is significant enough to justify closing them.
Curtains are soundproof and offer better insulation
The thicker the curtain is the more insulated they are. However, in summer, blinds are better than curtains for energy efficiency. This is because heat escapes easily through the slats.
Basically, yes. Any blind insulates better than no blind at all, but some blinds are much better insulators than others.
Window blinds are just as beneficial in winter. If snug against the window frame, they greatly reduce heat loss. They can also be kept open during the day and closed at night, trapping heat and reducing the need to turn on your furnace.
The best blinds to insulate a window are Roman blinds with a thermal lining, real wood blinds and faux wood blinds; and also thermally insulating roller blinds and vertical blinds, these latter two being made with the additional thermal lining I mentioned above.
Better winter option: turning the blinds down will help direct heat towards the center of the room, utilizing your resources in the winter. More light: because the blinds are facing down, light can stream in from the sun easier, which will flow towards the center of your living space.
In the winter, if you have south-facing windows, let the light shine in. The sun will help heat your home naturally, which takes some pressure off your furnace. For other windows, keep blinds and curtains close during the winter to keep heat inside your home.
Should blinds be up or down in winter if your main priority is keeping the house warm, and/or not spending more on your energy bills than you have to? In this situation, your blinds should be closed. Closed blinds, regardless of the blind type, help to insulate the window they're on.
Window blinds—vertical (Venetian blinds) or horizontal slat-type (louvered-type)—are effective at reducing summer heat gain and reducing glare, while providing good daylight indoors.
Keep blinds open during the day. Not only will this practice save you some money on energy bills during the winter, but it can also keep you and your family healthier. Read on to find out how sunlight can kill harmful bacteria present in the dust in your rooms.
Dr Lindsay Browning, psychologist and sleep expert at bed retailer And So To Bed agrees that it's best to keep windows closed where you can. “Generally, when it is really hot outside it is a good idea to keep windows closed during the daytime, as you don't want the hot external air to come into the house warming it up.
The trick is to use the right type of window shades to block the heat and to install them as close to the glass as possible to get the maximum benefit. For insulation purposes, cellular or honeycomb shades are the most effective. The honeycomb shape helps to trap air, reducing your solar heat gain.
To maximize energy efficiency in your home, opt for top down bottom-up cellular shades, vertical blinds, and honeycomb shades. These materials provide excellent insulation by trapping air between the cells of the material and keeping your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
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.
In contrast, thermal curtains are a relatively inexpensive way to control drafts, reduce heat loss by up to 25% in the winter and reduce solar gain by 33% in the summer.
Cellular (honeycomb) shades are the best shades for providing insulation. Their innovative design traps air at the window, keeping a room warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
What percentage of heat is lost through windows? For most houses, windows typically account for 10% of total heat lost. Around two thirds of this is due to the radiation through the glazing. Air leakage tends to be the next biggest contributor especially from windows with poor insulation.
Heat Blocking Curtains and Drapes
Darker-colored drapes trap more heat inside, while lighter-colored drapes reflect light. Generally, light-colored drapes with a lining are best for cooling your home.