Roller Shutters have insulation in the slats and create a tight barrier over the window which creates a pocket of air to insulate your window from the hot sun. In winter the opposite is true and they do a great job of keeping your home warm. This makes shutters the best choice of all outdoor blinds for insulation.
Light blocking strips (called Light Blockers) are available on most Blinds.com roller shades and can be ordered at the same time during the configuration process. Roller shades naturally have large gaps to the sides of the fabric so these light blocking strips are the perfect solution for maximum light control.
Because blinds are made of hard, opaque material, they block out a ton of light, but it can leak through the slats.
When you need a UV blocking window treatment option that can also help create comfortable indoor temperatures or provide full privacy, consider cellular shades. Cellular shades can provide up to 99% protection against harmful UV rays.
Simply installing blinds or curtains in a room will also help stop the harsh UV rays from coming through the window. As always blinds work with the look and feel of the room but sometimes they are not and tinting/window screens are the best option.
3. Do Solar Shades Keep Heat and Cold Out? Solar shades can help reduce heat in a window, but they will not block cold. They reduce heat by blocking the amount of sunlight coming into a space, and making the windows more energy efficient.
Blackout curtains often refer to drapes that are made of a double-lined, tightly woven fabric. Blackout curtains are designed to block light completely. The only way light gets into a room with blackout curtains is through gaps around the window.
Thermal blinds will help to keep heat in during the winter and help to keep your home cooler during the summer, but don't expect them to replace or be as good as air-con.
Energy Saving: Bamboo shades can help you save money on your energy bill because they offer insulation. Bamboo shades sit close to the window, stopping heat from entering or escaping the room.
To protect your area more from solar gain, outdoor blinds stop the heat before it passes into your home, office or restaurant. They help regulate your interior temperature by controlling how much sunlight enters inside. The more your blinds are open, the more sunlight will pass through your windows.
Select blinds that will suit your needs
If you want to use blinds to stay warm this winter, the choice is endless. However, blinds will only retain heat when they are not slatted, so roller and roman blinds should be at the top of your shopping list.
Zebra blinds are the best insulators against cold and keep heat from escaping. Thus, they reduce your energy bills over the long run.
Venetian blinds are wonderful at reducing heat in the room. Coming in at number four on our list are the beautiful Venetian blinds. These are available in both aluminium and wood and also come in a range of slat sizes.
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.
Sheer curtains are made from transparent, lightweight material that acts as a wonderful light filter. That means that sheers still allow sunlight to enter into your room, but their fabric acts as a light diffuser, which softens the natural light.
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.
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.
All solar fabrics reduce glare so you can see your television and other electronic screens better. They also save on cooling and heating costs by reducing the heat transfer (both ways). So anyway, solar shades make good sense for your home.
Do windshield sunshades work? Indeed they do. In this video test, a car that heated up to 120 Fahrenheit on a sunny day saw its interior temperature drop to 92 degrees after a $20 sun shade was installed.
PVC blinds are incredibly effective in offering protection from the sun's harmful UV rays. They also help reduce energy costs and they are highly versatile as well.
Dark or bright colors
Darker colors absorb more UV than lighter colors like whites and pastels. This means the UV rays are less likely to reach your skin. But bright colors such as red can also absorb UV rays. The more vivid the color, the greater the protection—a bright yellow shirt is more protective than a pale one.
Honeycomb shades, also called cellular shades, are a softer, visually pleasing choice for blocking UV rays in rooms where decor is important. Honeycomb shades will block as much UV light and heat as solar shades, and more in some cases.