Assessing the Energy Efficiency of Window Treatments

Conserving energy is not only beneficial for the environment; it can save you money as well. Installing window treatments that insulate is one of the best ways to make your home more energy efficient. There are many window treatment companies that claim to sell energy efficient products, but some can be more effective than others, so it’s good to know the facts about them before deciding.

Curtains and draperies can give a room an elegant feel, but because of their pleats and folds, they lose heat through convection. When they are drawn, most traditional draperies can only reduce heat loss by 10%. But, if they are hung as close to the window as possible, a cornice is installed at the top and the drapery is sealed at both sides and overlapped in the center, you can push it to about 25%. However, the fact that draperies lose heat through convection makes them ideal for warm weather when your main concern is heat gain. Medium-colored draperies with white-plastic backings have been found to reduce heat gain by up to 33%.

Blinds are another type of window treatment that can be helpful when you are trying to prevent heat gain. They don’t help much when it comes to averting heat loss because of the numerous openings between the slats. These openings, however, make it very easy to control light and ventilation. Reflective blinds are even more effective as these are designed to reflect the sun’s rays back through the glass before they can heat the room up or cause damage. When completely lowered and closed on a sunlit window, highly reflective blinds can reduce heat gain by around 45%.

Shades are the best window treatment for preventing heat loss. Cellular or honeycomb shades decrease heat loss by trapping air within the “cells” of the shades, but they must be installed correctly to carry this out. The proper way to install cellular shades is as close to the glass as possible with the sides of the shade held close to the wall. For maximum efficiency in the winter, shades should be raised on the side of the house that receives the most sun during the day and then lowered at night.

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2. High style meets energy efficiency
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