Energy Efficient Window Treatments

I recently did a project for some alumni clients of mine where we replaced all the window treatments in their home with new ones.  They had purchased window treatments from me about 15 years ago and now it was time to do a refresh.  We put Hunter Douglas shades throughout their home and this time, all motorized.  They love the convenience that the motorization provides them with raising and lowering their shades from their cell phones, but most important is the energy efficiency that these new window treatments provide for my clients. 

So, let’s talk about how certain types of window treatments can make your home more energy efficient.

Window coverings like blinds or shades can help reduce heat loss.  A house can lose up to 30% of heating energy through its windows. They not only keep your home warmer in the winter months, but cooler in the hot summer months. The right kinds of window treatments offer insulating effects that lessen your use of heating and cooling appliances. This, in turn, helps lower your energy consumption, which then translates to savings on your energy bills. With the rising prices for both natural gas and electricity right now, having energy efficient window coverings can be a game changer.

The Hunter Douglas Duettes (cellular shades) that my clients put in their kitchen, living room and dining room are the best product on the market for insulation.  Insulated cellular shades are typically considered to have the highest R-values of all window coverings. The air pockets in the honeycomb cross-sections act as insulators, increasing the R-value and reducing the conduction of heat through the window. HD Architella Duettes have a cell within a cell, which is what makes them unique and even better than other brands at energy efficiency.  Cellular shades that operate on side tracks are the most effective at increasing the R-value of windows.

We put one large shade in my clients dining room to be top-down/bottom-up, so that they can enjoy the view while still maintaining some privacy at certain times of the day.

My clients put Hunter Douglas Pirouettes in their bedrooms and bathrooms, which are also good for insulation.  By making all their shades PowerView, they have programmed them to open and close at the optimum time of day, so that they allow the light to come in when they need it but protect the rooms from the sun at the hottest times of the day. 

Another great thing about these eco window shades is that they prevent damage to flooring and furniture by blocking out the sun’s harmful UV rays. 

Roller or Roman Shades

Roller shades are usually shades that are raised or lowered from a roller bar fitted at the top of the window. They can have a traditional look like these do in the left image, in one of my client’s kitchen, or they can look very sleek and modern without the scallop hem, like the image on the right, in another one of my client’s bathroom. They come in a variety of fabric options.

Roman shades are fabric window shades that are drawn up into a series of evenly stacked folds when raised or lowered.  These shades typically fit inside of the window casing, or just outside, and they also come in a variety of fabrics, colors, and weaves. Heavier fabrics will typically offer slightly better thermal performance, but roller and roman shades offer only a small amount of insulation and are most effective for privacy, room darkening, and blocking sunlight. Hunter Douglas makes solar shades that are great for blocking UV rays, however they are best for office spaces and rooms where you do not need privacy at night.  They do not provide privacy when it is dark out and you have the lights on inside.

Blinds or Shutters

Window blinds or shutters—vertical or horizontal slat-type—are more effective at reducing summer heat gain than winter heat loss.

Because of the numerous openings between the slats of blinds, it is difficult to control heat loss through interior window blinds, but the slats offer flexibility in the summer. Unlike shades, you can adjust the slats to control glare, light, and solar heat gain.

When completely closed and lowered on a sunny window, highly reflective blinds can reduce heat gain. Horizontal slat-type blinds can also be adjusted to block and reflect direct sunlight onto a light-colored ceiling. A light-colored ceiling will diffuse the light without much heat or glare, while allowing you to take additional advantage of natural day lighting.

Good quality plantation shutters are a more permanent installation and can add value to your home, providing a bigger return on investment than most other window treatments. Therefore, if shutters work with the style of your home, this can be a good choice.

Curtains and Drapes

Curtains are fabric interior attachments that are typically sized to fit the window, while drapery reach all the way to the floor or even puddle at the floor. Curtains are usually made from lighter fabrics and are unlined, while drapery are made from slightly thicker fabrics and are lined and more formal in design.

A curtain or drapery's ability to reduce heat loss and gain depends on several factors, including fabric type (closed or open weave) and color.  Using a black-out or thermal lining on your drapery will considerably increase your energy efficiency. 

In this image, we combined a cordless Hunter Douglas Duette with stationary drapery panels on the sides and flat roman shades on the smaller side windows to provide energy efficiency, privacy and the soft look of the fabric to add warmth to the bedroom.

Woven Shades

Another natural option is shades made from reeds, bamboos, and grasses.  Hunter Douglas Provenance shades are what my clients put in their offices.  They motorized these as well.

There are other companies that make all these products, and I have sold others, but I am a huge fan of Hunter Douglas as they are the leader in innovation for all things in window treatments and most of the other companies tend to knock them off once their patents run out. Their products are superior and so are their warrantees.  They also have a huge selection. I do not work for them or get a commission from them.  I just have sold a lot of their products and my clients and I have always been happy. 

Greenguard Certified

Greenguard certification reassures homeowners that a product has met some of the world’s toughest, most comprehensive standards for low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) seeping into indoor air. Building materials and furnishings that emit VOC emissions are a major cause of indoor air pollution, so having a third party verify products’ safety is critical.

Operation of Window Coverings

Be strategic about when you open and close your window treatments to maximize and control the light and heat from the sun. The automated shades are very convenient for this, but not necessary.

So to summarize, window coverings can reduce energy loss through windows, lower heating and cooling bills, improve home comfort, and protect your flooring and furnishings.

With climate change so clearly upon us, and our gas and electricity bills skyrocketing lately, we all need to think seriously about ways to be more energy efficient in our homes. Window treatments are certainly a big way to conserve energy. Let us know if you would like a window treatment consultation to help you decide what to use on your windows.