It is estimated that heat loss from windows can contribute to more than 10% of household energy costs. Installation of proper window coverings can provide savings while giving your house a stylish and classic look. The window treatments selected for your home can help regulate the indoor environment by reflecting excess sunlight during summer. In a typical house with more than 15 treated windows, the annual savings on energy costs can be as much as $150. Embracing these simple techniques can help you achieve your decorative goals while making significant strides in energy savings.

Highly-reflective window films

Reflective films are mostly preferred for their aesthetic appeal on windows. However, they also block summer heat gain thereby keeping the indoor temperatures in check. Silver coated window films are more efficient than the colored or more transparent films. They perform best when installed on east-west facing windows since that are the angle at which the sun’s rays will have the biggest impact. Apart from being decorative, tinted window films can also enhance the privacy of the home.

Shades

Most homeowners think that shades can only be used for decorative purposes. Some types of shades, especially the honeycomb type, act as both insulators and barriers thereby controlling air infiltration into the house. The air is trapped between the shade and the glass, and since it is a bad conductor of heat it regulates heat loss or gain.

Honeycomb shades can be as effective an insulator as eighth-inch foam, but they block light from entering the rooms during the day and can also expose the house interior at night when lights are turned on. The additional use of drapes may be needed for maximum privacy.

Drapes

Treating your windows with drapes can be an efficient way to condition the indoor environments. The performance of drapes as energy efficient window coverings depends on several factors such as fabric type and also color. Blacked lined drapes will absorb more heat while drapes made of reflective material will reflect much of the heat. Their performance can also be enhanced by combining with other window treatments such as the honeycombs. For drapes to perform efficiently, they should remain closed.

Window Shutters

Installation of window shutters can be perfectly integrated with the architecture of the house in order to achieve maximum insulation. Window shutters are either made of wood or vinyl. Wood shutters are better insulators as wood is more resistant to heat transfer.