Save With Green Window Treatments!: Energy Efficient Blinds And Shades That Reduce Energy Costs

Up to 25% of your heating and cooling cost escapes through your windows! The proper window blinds and shades can drastically reduce the amounts of energy loss.

Solar Heat Gain - There are three types of energy movement that consumers need be aware of: heat gain from the outside, heat loss from your home, and harmful energy. The first of these types, heat gain, is called a products’ Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). It measures the amount of heat that a product allows through it. A “0” indicates that no heat is allowed through a product and a coefficient of “1” shows that all heat is allowed to penetrate a product. This is an important factor during the hot summer months for determining how much heat is being allowed in your home. For example, a double-glazed window has a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient of 0.76. This translates to 76% of heat entering into your home from the outside. Honeycomb shades are especially adept at blocking and re-routing the energy attempting to invade your home. The Duette Architella by Hunter Douglas is the best honeycomb shade, and can reduce the SHGC by as much as 0.61 points, allowing only 15% of heat to be transmitted into the home.

R-Value (Insulating Value) - The second type of energy measurement is the R-value of a product. This number represents heat loss or how efficient of an insulator a product is. This measure is especially important during winter months because it indicates how well your window shades guard the energy heating your home. With a solar heat gain coefficient, you want a lower number, but with R-value, the goal is a higher number or a more insulative product. Using the example of a double-glazed window again, even a low-e window has an R-value close to 3.5. The R-value of a window opening can be increased by as much as 4.36 points when covering the window with the most energy efficient honeycomb shade, saving approximately 50% of heat that would have been lost.

Ultraviolet (UV) – Ultraviolet rays are known to be harmful to skin, but did you know they also damage furniture, flooring, and artwork? The sun’s powerful rays will dull and fade color in antique furnishings and dim the vibrant strokes of artistry. Choosing window blinds and shades that block UV rays from bombarding your home can save not only your skin, but carpets, woodwork, cabinets, etc. Horizontal sheers, such as the popular Silhouette, are an excellent solution. Wide open, a quality sheer can block up to 87% of UV rays. When the vanes are tilted closed, the coverage is up to 99%! So, whether the sunshine is harsh or delicate, horizontal sheers provide needed protection that will prove valuable to your pockets.

The best products to combat these forces so dominant in Raleigh and surrounding areas are Honeycomb (or cellular shades), Plantation Shutters, Silhouette shades, and Vignette roman shades. Spending more on your initial purchase can equate to a truckload of savings every month in addition to the green initiative of energy efficiency. The investment is definitely worth the return.

Are your window treatments outdated or not adding to the glamour of your home? Call our Hunter Douglas Gallery® Certified Design Team today! (919) 380-0898 or Sales@Tripleablind.com.