Window Treatments & Your Energy Bills

How Three Different Types of Window Treatments Can Help You Save on Energy Bills

The winter months are rapidly approaching, which means more time spent indoors keeping warm and cozy. Unfortunately, that can also mean a higher energy bill. These days, saving money is more important than ever. You?ve probably run through the family budget several times, looking for what you can cut. But what if we told you that there was a way to use your interior design choices to help you save money on your energy bills?

By choosing the right window treatments, you can keep the heat or air conditioning in your home, leading to less energy used and lower bills, and the savings can add up. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that up to 30% of your heat can escape through the windows in the winter, and in the summer, up to 76% of the sunlight that enters through your windows turns into heat. The right curtains or blinds can cut this heat loss or gain, leading to significant savings for you.

To illustrate, we?ve chosen three of the more popular interior window treatments - cellular honeycomb shades, blinds, and Roman/roller shades - and shown how they can help you save money on your energy bills.

Cellular Honeycomb Shades

If you?re looking to use your window treatments to save money on your heating bills, you want insulated cellular honeycomb shades. When installed with a tight, proper fit, these shades can help you save up to 20% of your heating energy in the winter and can cut solar energy gain to 15% or less in the summer. For even better results, choose automated shades whose opening and closing schedules can be adjusted with the seasons.

Custom Blinds

Both vertical and horizontal blinds are better at keeping your home cooler in the summer than conserving heat in the winter. This is because the space between the individual slats lets heat escape. However, blinds can easily be adjusted to control how much light comes in, making it simple to cut heat gain during the warmer months. For best results, angle horizontal blinds to let sunlight come in and reflect off a light-colored ceiling. This will provide plenty of light while reducing heat gain. Custom blinds can also come with reflective backings that will further reduce heat gains.

Roman and Roller Shades

From a heating and cooling perspective, there?s not much difference between these types of window treatments (although of course, there?s a big design difference!). These types of shades are best for tweaking light levels and maintaining your privacy. While thicker fabrics will be more insulating, it?s best to use these types of shades to control light rather than heat.

As you and your family prepare to settle in for the winter, consider the various window treatments that can lead to significant savings on your energy bills. To find the best option for your home, consult the experts at Kanter's Carpet & Design Center. We regularly help homeowners throughout the Westchester County, NY area, and we?d be happy to help you! Call us today to learn more and start the design process.