Why use Energy-efficient Window Attachments? Energy-efficient window attachments are important for both new and existing homes. 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.
There's no denying it, summer is behind us now and glorious autumn is beckoning the colder nights – but if that chill is extending into your house it is worth checking your blinds and curtains. Around 10 per cent of the heat in our homes is lost through the window with that figure rising if you have single panes.
If you're trying to beat the heat inside your home, energy-saving window treatments will go a long way in reducing the amount of heat streaming into your home. Closing curtains can help cool the interior, save money on utility bills and lessen the wear and tear on your HVAC system.
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.)
To sum up, yes they do! For best results, follow these simple steps: Keep curtains open during sunny spells in the daytime to make the most of natural light and heat. Close curtains when it's cold and dull, particularly at night, to reduce losing heat via windows and doors.
According to researchers from the University of Salford, drawing your curtains at dusk can reduce heat loss by around 15-17%.
There isn't a fast and hard rule for this, it would seem, as it has been suggested that if you have pale curtains, you are safer to keep them shut as this will help keep the heat out - but if you have dark curtains, you will be blocking in the heat if you keep them closed.
This can be achieved by the addition of thick curtains and a pelmet. A poorly fitted curtain allows heat loss to occur, while a well fitted curtain combined with a pelmet significantly reduces heat loss, so remember to: use closely woven, close fitting internal window coverings such as curtains or blinds.
For insulation purposes, cellular or honeycomb shades are the most effective. The honeycomb shape helps to trap air, reducing your solar heat gain. You also may want to consider adding side tracks to your shades so they sit closer to the window and block out more heat. Also, keep in mind the colour you choose.
Block the heat
Shade windows and walls using external coverings, like blinds, awnings or large potted plants. Plant deciduous trees that cast shade over your home in summer, but still let the sun shine through in winter.
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.
Both curtains and blinds are effective at controlling the amount of light and heat that enter a room, but they each have their own unique benefits. For example, curtains are typically made from thicker fabrics that provide better insulation, making them ideal for rooms that tend to be hotter than others.
Researchers say heart rates rise and the body can't rest properly when there's light in a bedroom. Their findings add that exposure to even moderate ambient lighting during nighttime sleep, compared to sleeping in a dimly lit room, harms cardiovascular function and increases insulin resistance the following morning.
Not only do closed curtains help add a little extra warmth to your bedroom and prevent onlookers, they have a strong effect on your quality of sleep.
Windows account for almost half of your home's heat gain in the summer. Be sure to: Shade all sunstruck windows with shade screens, awnings, trees and shrubs on the outside and window tints or film, blinds, shutters or drapery on the inside.
Yes. Emergency management agencies specifically recommend using “aluminum foil-covered cardboard” between windows and drapes to reflect heat back outside.
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.
Materials with a low thermal conductivity like cardboard are perfect for making insulation. These are used to keep heat from transferring between objects or locations. A good example of this is when faced with a window being broken and left without replacements on hand.
“In short, open windows when the temperature inside the house becomes greater than the external temperature, otherwise keep the windows closed,” he explains. 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.
"It might seem counterintuitive, but if the air outside is hotter than the air in your home, keeping your windows closed could help your home stay a little cooler," he explained. Keeping your blinds and curtains closed during the day could also help to keep your house cool.
The rule you should go by is whether it is hotter outside than inside. If the temperature is higher outside than it is inside, you should keep your windows and curtains closed. This will shut the heat out, and help to keep your home cool.
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.