What Are the Most Energy-Efficient Window Shades?
Jul 27, 2022Indoor energy efficiency—it’s one aspect that homeowners are always looking to improve upon. And while there are a handful of energy-
saving practices that homeowners are generally aware of, one that largely goes unnoticed is investing in energy-efficient window shades. It’s important to note that each window shade’s contribution to a home’s thermal performance is different. Here are the window shades most worth considering if you wish to lower your monthly energy bills:
Roller Shades
Roller shades are made up of singular flat sheets of material that sits atop the window and “rolls up” to let sunlight into the home. This particular window shade comes in a variety of opacities, from sheer and light diffusion to room darkening and blackout. The more opaque the material, the more energy efficient the roller shade. As the opacity grows greater, less sunlight—and thus heat—is allowed to pass through the shades and into the home. Because blackout roller shades completely block the sun, they make for an excellent investment in terms of energy efficiency. For even greater thermal performance, blackout roller shades can be installed with side channels. Side channels serve as a track for the edges of roller shades to move within, blocking out any sunlight that would otherwise sneak through the gaps between the window shade and the window.
Roman Shades
Roman shades are soft-fabric window coverings that cascade like a waterfall when in the down position and fold neatly at the top of the window when not in use. Like roller shades, Roman shades are also offered in a range of light-filtering opacities, depending on the fabric chosen. Roman shades are also effective at blocking heat transfer, so your home stays cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
Solar Shades
As their name might suggest, solar shades are a great window treatment option for saving energy. Made from either natural or synthetic materials, solar shades work to filter harmful UV rays from passing into the home and are designed to absorb heat, which in turn keeps your air conditioning unit from working harder than it should.
Cellular Shades
Any of the window shades discussed above would serve as a great choice for homeowners looking to save energy. However, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a window shade option that performs better than cellular shades in terms of energy efficiency. Cellular shades, also called honeycomb shades, are installed above windows and are designed to stack neatly into themselves when an unobstructed view of the outdoors is desired. When fully extended, cellular shades create distinctive honeycomb-shaped pockets between two layers of fabric. These pockets are designed to trap air and serve as a layer of insulation, limiting trips to the thermostat and potentially lowering cooling and heating costs. Best of all, cellular shades don’t just make for a wonderful energy-efficient window shade option for traditional window styles. These window shades are incredibly versatile and can be installed on specialty-shape windows as well as sliding glass doors.
Finding a Reputable Window Treatment Company in Your Area
No window shades will yield the energy savings you anticipate without proper installation. That’s why choosing the right window treatment company for your window shade installation is critical. Fortunately, homeowners in Central Florida don’t have to look far for high-quality, energy-efficient window shades and expert installation. ShadesToYou is the local family-owned and -operated window treatment company area homeowners turn to for tailored solutions. Not only do we carry a large selection of roller shades, Roman shades, solar shades, and cellular shades, but we also take great care during installation to ensure your window shades provide the greatest energy efficiency possible and look great while doing so. Contact us today to get started with a complimentary design consultation.
