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.
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.
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.
Venetian Blinds
The slats are wither wooden or aluminum. The aluminum Venetian blinds are highly recommended for heat control particularly in hot conservatories. The ability to tilt slats in Venetian blinds make them an excellent choice in heat and light control.
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.
Drapes, curtains and blinds enable you to control the amount of sunlight that enters the room. If you keep them closed completely, you can block the light and heat coming from the sun. You might want to consider window treatments with a light-colored or reflective backing as they are known to work best.
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.
First, check for these common problems: Dirty air filter—A dirty filter restricts airflow, not letting your home get enough cool air. Closed vents—Closed vents in rooms can cause them to be hotter than other rooms. Open windows—Your conditioned air can flow out of open windows, leaving uneven temperatures in your home.
Eliminate excessive heat. While curtains and blinds are great for privacy and help to block some heat, they do so at the cost of natural light. 3M™ Window Films can reduce up to 78% of the sun's heat coming through your windows, to help make your home bright and comfortable, all day long.
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.
How Blackout Curtains Work. Blackout curtains are made with a tight weave that blocks light from entering a room; conversely, it also blocks heat from escaping a room. Most of the heat that touches the curtains' surface will be reflected, resulting in lower temperatures inside the room.
While, yes, thermal curtains can reduce light by up to 90% and insulate against heat, it's important to note that not all thermal options are alike. For the best insulation, look for a thermal curtain that has at least two layers, triple-woven fabric, and blackout technology to eliminate light and even noise.
Cooling Plants
Some popular indoor plants can act as natural coolants, offering a more natural way to lower the temperature in your home and reduce your reliance on cooling appliances that cause energy bills to spike.
How cool should my house be if it's 100° outside? The majority of air conditioning units are designed to only cool the air about 20 degrees from the outside temperature. If the temperatures outside are approaching triple digits, you should set your thermostat at about 78°.
By using an old plastic container, an old washing machine motor, old fan blade, a portable DC water pump and a few other spares, you too can build a good air cooler. While the cooler does not look as great, it is a nice DIY fun project for everyone to try.
Wrap up and stay cosy
Her advice for keeping warm during the winter months, therefore, is to make yourself as cosy as possible: “Blankets all the way. From a nice cosy fleecy blanket to snuggle under on the sofa to an electric heated blanket on my bed.