Things to Know About Energy Efficient Window Shades

Energy efficient windows are available on the market and provide additional protection against energy loss in your home. Add another layer of protection using energy efficient window shades. Fitted properly, window shades can reduce your heating and cooling bills by acting as insulation. Shades can reflect heat during the summer months and retain warmed interior air during the winter months. Available in different styles and colors, you can purchase shades that not only to reduce your heating and cooling costs, but also complement your interior design scheme.

Energy efficient roller shades and roman shades have batting sandwiched between the outer layers of fabric; these may be referred to as quilted shades. The batting acts as additional insulation against both heat and cold. The installation of quilted shades require a sill depth of at least three inches to accommodate the thickness of the shades.

Cellular shades are also insulating shades. The honeycomb design traps air and prevents it from either entering the interior or exiting to the exterior. Cellular shades are more lightweight and require less sill depth for installation.

Some types of cellular shades also have a reflective side and an absorbent side. The reflective side, usually a white or cream color, reflects heat away. The absorbent side, a dark color, retains heat through absorption and then releases the heat back out.

The shade can be reversed to take advantage of this duo action. In the summer, keep the reflective side facing outward, to reflect heat away from the interior. In winter, reverse the shade. The reflective side will bounce heat back into the room and the absorbent side will draw in the sun’s rays and reduce condensation on the window.  

Window shades are more energy efficient when installed as an inside mount. An inside mount means the shades are fitted within the window frame, with a minimum of gapping to either side. If you do not have enough depth to fit a shade for an inside mount, select a larger size so as to extend beyond the window frame. Do not use extensions on the headrail; this pushes the shades farther away from the window and reduces efficiency.

Shades provide protection against energy loss only when they are closed, so select window shades in a color or pattern that coordinates with your design scheme. Raise your shades when the interior and exterior temperatures are similar, and neither your cooler nor heating system is in use. This practice will make the most use of your energy efficient window shades.