- Plantation Shutters. One of the best ways to reduce heat gain from the summer sun in your home is to have plantation shutters professionally installed on each of your windows.
- Blinds. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), when highly reflective interior blinds are lowered and closed on a sunny window, they can reduce heat gain by around 45 ...
- Lined Drapes. How much heat gain is reduced by a simple medium-colored drape with a white plastic backing? A whopping 33 percent, claims the DOE.
- Shades. Shades are some of the best window treatments because of their simplicity and effectiveness. There’s a secret to their success, though: being properly hung.
What window treatments look best from outside?
Window treatments for sliding glass doors: alternative solutions
- Vertical cellular shades. This solution is one of the most unusual and comfortable to use and, according to the designers, one of the most energy-efficient.
- Sliding panels (Track blinds) They are slats reminiscent of vertical blinds – with the only difference that, in this case, they are united by a translucent fabric.
- Sliding shutters. ...
- Draperies. ...
Which blinds block the most light?
Your question answered: blinds that let in the most light
- Our best pick of blinds that let in the most light. ...
- Roller blinds. ...
- You can even see the clouds through this sheer fabric
- Vertical blinds. ...
- By angling the louvres, you can let the light in.
- Versatile Verticals!
- Venetian blinds. ...
- Venetian blinds, finish by Eclipse
- Let the light in with venetian blinds from Norwich Sunblinds
- Pleated blinds. ...
How to prevent sun damage with window treatments?
- Are you avoiding peak sun hours?
- Are you covering up exposed skin by wearing hats, sunglasses, and the right clothes?
- Are you regularly using high-SPF broad-spectrum sunscreen every day?
How to block Sunshine from a high window?
- Place a sheer curtain over the window. Use a curtain that allows the sun to shine through but filters out some of the harsh rays.
- Move the plants a few feet away from the window glass, allowing them to bask in the bright sun without being hit by the direct rays.
- Apply a window film that blocks UV rays. ...
What are the best window coverings to block out heat?
Window blinds—vertical (Venetian blinds) or horizontal slat-type (louvered-type)—are effective at reducing summer heat gain and reducing glare, while providing good daylight indoors.
How do you block sun and heat on windows?
Instead of battling the unpleasant indoor temperatures with your cooling system and fans, learn how to block sunlight heat from windows....Heat Blocking Window Shades. ... Blockout Roller or Panel Blinds. ... External Window Shading. ... Bubble Wrap Window Insulation. ... Heat Reducing Window Film.More items...•
What window treatments keep the heat out?
The 8 Types of Window Coverings that Help Beat the Heat in Your...Indoor Window Shutters.Insulated Cellular Shades.Solar Window Shades.Louvered Window Blinds.Curtains and Drapes.Roman Shade Window Treatments.Exterior Window Awnings.Layered Window Coverings.
What type of shades keep heat out?
Cellular Shades. Cellular shades, or honeycomb shades, are one of the most energy efficient window coverings you can buy. They use a series of honeycomb-like cell pockets to trap air around your windows, keeping your rooms warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
How do I stop the sun from heating up my room?
Drapes, curtains and blinds enable you to control the amount of sunlight that enters the room. If you keep them closed completely, you can block the light and heat coming from the sun. You might want to consider window treatments with a light-colored or reflective backing as they are known to work best.
How do you block a sun window without curtains?
Using Tin Foil Or Cardboard Tinfoil, or aluminium foil, is a common and inexpensive way to blackout your window. It's a great option to go for as it's airtight and there's no way to see through it, so covering your window with tin foil is an effective way to achieve total darkness for easier sleeping during the day.
What is the best insulating window treatments?
Insulating Window Treatments: Your 4 Best OptionsCellular Shades: Honeycomb Insulation. Cellular shades have an enduring reputation as one of the best choices for insulating window treatments. ... Roller Shades: Cellular Insulation. ... Custom Roman Shades: Layered Insulation. ... Plantation Shutters: Framed Insulation.
Do thermal curtains really work?
Yes! Thermal curtains work effectively during both winter and summer. Medium- to light-colored curtains with a white, thermally reflective backing can reduce heat gain during the summer by as much as 33% by reflecting solar radiation. The orientation of the window also affects energy efficiency.
Are thermal blinds worth it?
Thermal blinds are generally superior at insulating than to curtains, even curtains made with insulated linings. Blinds have a closer fit to your wall or window, don't have a gap in the middle, and on the whole, perform more efficiently all round.
Will blackout blinds keep heat out?
Do blackout blinds keep the heat out? That's the question people have been inevitably asking over the last few days as temperatures soar to 30 degrees. The short answer is yes - blackout blinds block sunlight, making them one of the best ways to keep a room cool.
Do faux wood blinds block heat?
Yes, faux wood blinds insulate very effectively in both directions, be that preventing the internal heat from escaping in winter, or preventing it from breaking in during the summer!
Will blackout curtains keep heat out?
Blackout curtains can trap heat in during the winter and keep light and heat out during the summer. 10-25% of thermal energy loss goes out the windows. Blackout curtains can curtail this loss by a 25%, reducing your utility bills and greenhouse gases.
Why we recommend these window films to block heat?
Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
Why is it important to have a heat blocking window film?
The right fit is important because you want the film to cover your window completely for the best results. Films add comfort and efficiency to your home.
What is one way window film?
One-Way Window Film This anti-glare window film blocks out UV rays and reduces heating and cooling costs.
How to stick a film to a window?
If you are looking for the best way to stick a film to your window, look for films that use static cling versus a film that adheres right to your window. The adhesive usually lasts longer, but the static cling gives you more flexibility.
How to reduce electricity bill?
Blocking the amount of sun that shines into your apartment or home can help a lot with your electricity bill. In warmer days, it is important to look into options that will help you reduce heat and stay cooler.
How much of the sun's energy is transmitted through glass?
Did you know that 83% of the sun’s energy is transmitted through glass and 86% of this sunlight becomes heat? This is why heat reducing window films are a great option to make your home cooler and reduce your cooling costs.
What are the best window treatments for windows that face the sun?
If installed in the proper manner, interior blinds can be used to reflect the sunlight towards the ceiling which can scatter the light without creating too much heat inside. If your windows face major sunlight most of the day, blinds are the ideal window treatments for you. #3. Curtains and Drapes.
What is the best way to block heat from windows?
Exterior Shutters and Shades: One of the best ways to block heat from windows, exterior shutter and shades are extremely effective in reducing solar heat gain. They are usually made of fabric, wood, steel, aluminum or vinyl. While purchasing them for your residence, make sure that the material has smaller openings because of tinier the openings, ...
What are solar shades for patio doors?
Exterior Solar Shades for Patio Doors: The ideal shades for your patio doors are solar shades made of good quality screen material. Durable and low maintenance, they reduce the glare and block the UV rays from disrupting the temperature of your house. With a very sleek appearance, they look tidy on the sliding doors too. If you want to maintain the view and reduce the glare, solar shades will take care of it all. Slim and easy to install, they will do the job of filtering the harsh sunlight from entering your home which makes them one of the best ways to block heat from windows while retaining your view.
How do cellular shades help with solar heat?
Experts say that cellular shades can cut down the solar heat entering your homes by about 80%, or even more if installed tightly. #2. Blinds That Block out Light and Heat.
How to block heat from windows?
Sunlight is important, but being exposed to it for long can be detrimental to you in various ways. To escape the blazing sun, the easiest way is to shut yourself in your home and blast the air conditioner at its max. It works for a temporary cool down, but what about the sunlight ...
How do blinds work?
Though exterior blinds are much more effective than the interior ones, it is not very easy to install them to an already-constructed window. They are ideal for newly constructed houses and block the heat before it even enters your room. If installed in the proper manner, interior blinds can be used to reflect the sunlight towards the ceiling which can scatter the light without creating too much heat inside. If your windows face major sunlight most of the day, blinds are the ideal window treatments for you.
Why are shades installed close to glass?
Mounting them extremely close to the glass helps in creating a sealed space which obstructs the sunlight.
How to reduce heat gain from the sun?
One of the best ways to reduce heat gain from the summer sun in your home is to have plantation shutters professionally installed on each of your windows. Typically made of wood, but sometimes made of vinyl, the shutters are custom-fitted to each window and hung on hinges. As a bonus, these tasteful, long-lasting window treatments are often coveted ...
How much heat gain can you get from lowering blinds?
Department of Energy (DOE), when highly reflective interior blinds are lowered and closed on a sunny window, they can reduce heat gain by around 45 percent.
Why do drapes stay cooler in summer?
Add to that the fact that the drapes stay cooler than some other window treatments in the summer because their pleats and folds lose heat through convection, and you’ve got yourself a bonafide energy-efficient — and tasteful — window treatment.
Why are shade windows so popular?
Shades are some of the best window treatments because of their simplicity and effectiveness. There’s a secret to their success, though: being properly hung. You want to get each shade as close to the window glass as possible, with the sides of the shade as close to the wall as possible, to create a sealed air space.
What is a honeycomb shade?
Another shade option is the honeycomb style, which features a layered design that traps the air in its individual “honeycomb” cells. Air is a poor conductor of heat, so this type of shade creates an effective temperature-transfer barrier between the window and the interior room.
How to keep out the sun?
Keep Out the Sun With Energy-Efficient Window Treatments. You may not be able to replace your current windows with top-of-the-line, energy-efficient ones right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t save on energy costs in the meantime. Sometimes overlooked, window treatments, such as blinds and curtains, can actually help to keep ...
Can you reverse a window shade?
That way, you can reverse the shade, depending on the season. In the summer, the reflective side should face the window, to keep the heat out. And in the winter, it should face the room, to keep the heat it.
What window treatments can mount directly inside the window frame?
3. Roller Shades. Also known as solar shades, these window treatments can mount directly inside the window frame and come in various levels of transparency and opaqueness. Many homeowners choose these options for their windows because they have a more streamlined, modern aesthetic.
What to do with windows in June?
Here are just a few things you can do with your windows to keep your home more comfortable June through August: 1. Heavy Drapes. Over the past few years tastes have changed dramatically, especially in how homeowners “treat” their windows. Heavy drapes are less common now.
How much does blackout drapes reduce heat?
Heavy blackout drapes and those with the white plastic backings can reduce heat gains by 33 percent. Those energy savings can add up quickly. The downside is you compromise, shutting out natural light along with the heat. 2. Window Shutters.
What is low E window?
Perhaps the most popular is low emissivity (low-e) windows that can mitigate unwanted heat but also allow in ample natural light. For more information about keeping your home windows Phoenix covered and cool in Phoenix, AZ, contact the experts at Freelite. You can call to schedule an appointment at (602) 233-1981.
What are plantation shutters made of?
These feature louvers that allow you to adjust how much light you want to block. And because these are typically made of vinyl or wood materials, you get the added benefit of energy saving insulation.
Do drapes reduce heat?
Heavy drapes are less common now. Instead a lot of designers favor light, bright, open spaces full of natural light and windows that offer expansive views. But what most people forget is unwanted heat gains. Heavy blackout drapes and those with the white plastic backings can reduce heat gains by 33 percent .
How to block sunlight from windows?
Study the position of the sun during the hottest months when you want sunlight blocked from your windows and install plantings that will be in the sun's path. Or hire a landscape architect, who can suggest suitable types of plants and where to plant them. Using landscaping is an especially good idea if you'd rather allow some dappled light through your windows without the harsh rays.
What are some ways to block out the sun?
Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images. Interior blinds, shades or curtains are effective in blocking out the effects of the sun, according to APS. Hang curtains or blinds that have a white or light-colored surface facing toward the window glass for the best barrier to solar heat.
How to get the most sunlight in your house?
Awnings. install awnings. Install awnings over windows on the side of your house that receives the most intense sunlight during the day. This method adds a stylish look to the outside of some homes and will allow light to enter the room while blocking out the rays of the midday sun, according to APS.
How to save energy in summer?
One of the easiest ways to save energy by keeping the heat outside and cool air inside your home is to block or diminish the direct sunlight that shines through your windows. A substantial percentage of the heat gain inside a home in summer is directly attributable to windows. The good news is that there are several types of window treatments available that will help keep the sun out and reduce this unwanted heat in your home.
What percentage of heat gain in Arizona comes from windows?
More than 40 percent of the heat gain inside the home in the summer comes from windows, according to the Arizona Power System (APS). There are several window treatments available that will keep the sun out and reduce this unwanted heat in your house. Advertisement.
Do external shades block out heat?
Advertisement. External shades are seven times more effective in blocking out sunlight and its associated heat that regular blinds installed inside the window. Some models are made so that they can easily be removed during the winter when the sun is not as intense.
Can window film be taken down?
Window film is a permanent solution and shouldn't be taken down at the end of each summer. Some types of window film can even help your home to retain more heat in winter, which may cut your heating expenses. It's worth noting, however, that window film may hamper solar heat gain in winter. This can lead to higher heating bills if you live in a very cold climate with a paucity of sunny days during the colder months.
Why do you need to keep window coverings closed in summer?
In the summer, you may want to keep window coverings closed to reduce heat gain. For natural light, open those window coverings that don’t get direct sunlight.
How to reduce heat loss in a drapery?
For maximum effectiveness, install a cornice at the top of a drapery or place the drapery against the ceiling. Then seal the drapery at both sides and overlap it in the center. You can use Velcro or magnetic tape to attach drapes to the wall at the sides and bottom. Taking these steps will further reduce heat loss.
What is window covering?
Window coverings are items added to existing windows to improve energy efficiency, reduce glare or natural lighting, provide privacy, or enhance the appearance or comfort of a home. Window coverings include:
What are exterior shutters made of?
Exterior shutters and shades are usually made of a variety of materials, including fabric, wood, steel, aluminum, or vinyl. They are most effective at reducing solar heat gain.
What is an insulate cellular shade?
Insulated cellular shades are made of pleated materials that are designed to fold up, accordion-like, usually at the top of the window, but sometimes at either the top or the bottom. Insulated shades contain one or more air layers in a honeycomb cross-section. Some can be adjusted from the top, from the bottom, or both.
How much energy is lost through windows?
About 30% of a home's heating energy is lost through windows. In cooling seasons, about 76% of sunlight that falls on standard double-pane windows enters to become heat. Window coverings can help with this energy loss and lowering energy bills. The exact savings will depend on the type of attachment, the season, the climate, and how the attachment is used. In addition to the window coverings, storm windows with low-e coatings and/or multi-layer glazing are effective at improving thermal performance of windows and reducing solar heat gain.
Which window covering has the highest R value?
Insulated cellular shades are typically considered to have the highest R-values of all window coverings. The air pockets in the honeycomb cross-sections act as insulators, increasing the R-value and reducing the conduction of heat through the window.
How to save energy with window shades?
When properly installed, window shades are one of the simplest and most effective ways to save energy, but they need to be drawn all day to work. Mount them as close to the glass as possible within the window frame, creating a sealed space. Reversible shades that are white on one side and dark on the other can be switched with the seasons, with the white side reflecting the sun in the summer and the dark side absorbing its heat in the winter.
How much solar heat does a window awning reduce?
Window awnings can reduce solar heat gain by up to 65 percent on south-facing windows and 77 percent on west-facing windows, according to the DOE. For best results, choose awnings in light colors that reflect more sunlight. In the winter, you can roll up retractable awnings to let the sun warm your house.
Which is better, reflective or silver film?
Window film is best for homes in regions with long cooling seasons. Silver mirrorlike film is typically more effective than colored, more transparent film, and east- and west-facing windows benefit most because of their greater potential for heat gain. Keep in mind that reflective film is tricky to clean and, obviously, may affect your view.
Do you need to take the heat of the sun into consideration when installing a window air conditioner?
If you place the unit in a window that gets direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day , it will have to work harder to keep you cool. And that'll cost you.
Can blinds be closed to reduce heat gain?
Unlike shades, you can adjust the slats to control light and ventilation. When completely closed, highly reflective blinds can reduce heat gain by around 45 percent, says the DOE. They can also be adjusted to block and reflect direct sunlight onto a light-colored ceiling, which diffuses the light without much heat or glare.
Why are low E windows good?
Since low-E windows are double-paned and tightly sealed, they prevent drafts. Moreover, they minimize condensation and block UV rays. Meanwhile, you’ll enjoy the health benefits of bright natural light.
What to do if your summers are long and your winters mild?
Are your summers long and your winters mild? If so, consider applying adhesive window film . Transparent film lets more daylight pass through window glass.
How does an awning work?
A window awning works like a brim on a baseball cap. On a west-facing window, an awning can rebuff solar heat by 77 percent. Light-colored types reflect the most sunlight.
What is blackout blinds?
Such window treatments are also called “blackout blinds.” Their slats descend from a cassette window system. When you lower the blind, the slats fill the window frame, blocking light from the sides.
How long does it take to apply bubble wrap to a window?
Applying bubble wrap takes only five minutes per window! Using sharp scissors, cut the material to the size of your window glass. After misting the pane with water, press the wrap into place.
What is a corded roller shade?
Mechanisms can be corded or spring-activated. A corded roller shade has a continuous loop system, the cord attached to a pulley.
What fabric do roller shades come in?
Both roller and Roman shades come in quilted fabrics with fiber batting. By this, they offer a measure of defense against heat transfer.