Energy-Efficient Window Treatments – Guest Blogger

Guest Blogger Richard Moyle is from Horizon Window Treatments, the largest window treatment company in neighboring New York City. Horizon specializes in electrical window treatments, drapery and home automation.  Richard shares what you need to know when purchasing window treatments for a more energy-efficient home.

In the average home, most heat is lost and gained through windows. Home energy consumption can be considerably reduced by choosing the right kind of window treatments. There are a few things you can do to ensure you are maximizing the energy efficiency of your window treatments:

• The R-value measures the amount of insulation a window treatment product offers against heat loss in a home. The higher the R-value number, the more insulation the product will add to the window. Construction, fabric and installation are all factors for the R-value. The honeycomb shade (also known as a cellular shade) is a type of window treatment with a high R-value. They consist of an open cell, in a six-sided honeycomb shape. The sealed air space traps the heat inside and prevents it from leaving through the window. For an even higher R-value, you can get this type of shade in double or triple cell.
• The other number that is important to check when evaluating a window treatment’s energy.

  efficiency is the shading coefficient – This will tell you the amount of heat allowed into a home during the hottest time of the day. In this case, you want the number to be lower. Typically the more opaque a blind is, the less heat it will allow in. Blinds are also ideal for controlling heat gain as the slats can be adjusted for light and ventilation.

• Using as much natural light as you can will also increase the energy efficiency of your home. During the winter months, make sure that the windows that receive the most sunlight are open during the day and closed at night. This will allow you to warm up the house during the day as well as cut down on using electricity for light. Reflective blinds can be a big help during the summer as they are designed to reflect the sun’s rays back through the glass before they can heat the room up or cause damage.

Posted by Richard Moyle