How Curtains, Blinds and Sheers Can Save You Money

Heat waves are rolling in as the weather gets more interesting. Some people are even experiencing frequent blackouts. With these situations looming, energy bills are rising along with the heat. One report predicts that the average cost to cool a home this summer will be $719 — the highest in 10 years.

If you want to avoid paying energy bills this summer and still want to make sure you stay cool, you’ll want to invest in energy-efficient window treatments. Different window treatments are one of the easiest ways to invest in the overall energy efficiency of your home.

An energy-efficient home keeps you comfortable, uses fewer resources, and saves you money. There are many ways to increase the efficiency of your home, from simple changes like turning off the lights when you leave a room to larger projects like install solar panelsBut you may be missing out on one of the most effective and easiest ways to save energy.

Window treatments such as curtains, blinds, shades and awnings have the power to significantly increase energy efficiency. The right window treatments, also called window fasteners, can keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. They can also reduce your utility bills all year long.

“For a typical home, window area is less than 10 percent of the total envelope. But the Department of Energy has estimated that windows can provide up to 50 percent of the energy flowing in and out of the home,” said Tom Culp, owner of Birch Point Consulting in Wisconsin and a board member of the nonprofit public interest organization the Appendices Energy Assessment Council“Windows are incredibly important for the energy performance of your home and your energy bill.”

How do curtains and blinds save energy?

Window treatments can make your home more energy efficient in a number of ways. How they can help and which window treatments are best to buy to save energy depends on the time of year and the climate in which you live.

When it’s cold and dark in the winter, the right window treatments can act as a barrier, preventing your home from losing heat through leaks or gaps around your windows. They can also prevent cold, drafty air from entering your home.

“A lot of energy goes in and out of your home through the windows,” Culp said. “A blind or curtain provides an insulating layer that helps block some of that heat loss, especially at night.”

In warm, sunny weather, blinds, shades, films and other treatments block the sun, keeping your home cooler during the hottest parts of the day. In colder climates, sunlight can be beneficial during the winter and shoulder seasons.

“The sun shining through your window can be good or bad. Where I live in Wisconsin, it helps to heat your home and offset your heating bills,” Culp said. “If you live in the South, the sun may not be your friend in the summer. A blind or shade cloth can block some of that sunlight and prevent that extra heat from coming in and adding to your air conditioning bill. It really depends on where you are in the country and what your specific application is.”

Not all window treatments are created equal. To get the most value and find the right product for you, it is important to understand the different window treatments available.

Isolated Cellular Shades

These pleated fabric shades, also called honeycomb shades or cellular shades, are considered the highest performing window treatment option in terms of R-value, which measures the performance of a building’s insulation. Their honeycomb shape creates a layer of air that blocks heat or cold from entering your home. They also have the most potential to help you save energy. Insulated Cellular Shades 20% less energy consumption in a study conducted by the US Department of Energy.

Thermal curtains

Thermal curtains look like everyday fabric curtains, but they differ from decorative curtains in one significant way. They are made of multiple layers of thick, insulating fabric designed to trap cool or warm air and prevent leakage or drafts from windows.

Thermal blinds

Thermal blinds are year-round window treatments that create a heat barrier on your home’s windows. Similar to insulated cellular blinds, these blinds often have honeycomb pockets to trap a layer of air that acts as a thermal barrier between the window and your home. An aluminum layer on each side of the blind reflects heat back into your space in the summer and winter.

Window quilts

A window quilt works similarly to a quilt made for your bed. By sewing layers of fabric together with an insulating layer in between, a window quilt blocks air from coming in or out of your windows. They also completely block out the sun, making them double duty as blackout curtains, and can help reduce outside noise.

Window spreads come in roll-up and pull-up styles for added flexibility. However, some come with hook-and-loop or snap fasteners so you can attach the spread to all four sides of the window.

Window films

Unlike the other window treatments on this list, which are attached to the inside or outside of your windows to help with energy efficiency, window films are applied directly to the glass. Window films reduce heat gain from the sun, as well as glare and UV rays, but because they’re not adjustable, they’re better for hot, sunny climates than cold ones. Because window films are tinted, they provide privacy while allowing you to see outside, unlike curtains and blinds.

Awnings

When mounted on the outside of your home above windows, awnings block sunlight, preventing the sun’s heat from entering your home. Fixed and adjustable models are available, and you can install a single awning above a window or a longer awning that can shade windows on one side of your home.

Like window films, solar shades may be a better option for homeowners in warm climates, as blocking the sun uses more energy to heat your home in the winter.

How do you find energy efficient curtains and blinds?

At AERC’s Residential Products Search Pageyou can find certified window treatments and even filter and sort to find products that fit your needs and climate. While you probably have an idea of ​​whether your home needs more cooling or heating for a larger portion of the year, the organization also has a climate zone map which can help you determine whether the AERC cooling or heating rating is more relevant to your home.

You can also look for products with the AERC Energy Improvement Label when shopping in person. Each rating label contains a number that indicates how well the product performs in both cool and warm climates.

Regardless of which window fasteners you choose, you will get the most energy savings when you adjust them regularly to match the outside conditions. Another study by the Department of Energy found that 75% of window coverings stay in the same position every day, and more than half of American households don’t adjust their window treatments daily. Culp sees that fact as an opportunity for automation to make energy-efficient window treatments even more effective.

“What automation can do better than most homeowners do is open your blinds when it’s beneficial for you and close them when it’s not,” he said. “You can control it yourself through an app or it can be set to run optimally. It knows when it’s going to save you the most energy and the most money, so you get better performance.”

Do regular curtains and blinds improve efficiency?

“All window accessories have an impact, from simple mini vertical blinds to decorative sheers and high-end insulating cellular roller shades,” Culp says.

The curtains or blinds you can buy at a department store or big box store are not specifically designed for energy efficiency. They may reduce your energy consumption somewhat, but you will likely see a greater impact on your energy bill with a product that is labeled as energy efficient and has an AERC rating that makes sense for your home and your climate.

Frequently Asked Questions