Whether it’s because they legitimately care about the environment or just want to reduce their energy bills and get tax credits, many people are trying to reduce their home’s carbon footprint. Window treatments are typically not the first thing that comes to mind when assessing the energy efficiency of their homes. But, the truth of the issue is that some carefully chosen window treatments can be one of the most successful ways of saving energy as they can decrease heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer.

Cellular shades can be one of the easiest and most effective window treatments for saving energy if they are properly installed. In order to create a preserved air space, shades should be mounted close to the glass with the sides of the shade as close to the wall as possible. During the winter, shades should be raised on the south side of the house in the daytime and then lowered at night to warm the house with the sun’s heat. In the summertime, shades should always be lowered on sunlit windows to prevent excessive heat gain.  Dual shades can be even more useful in the summer as they are highly reflective (white) on one side and heat absorbent (black) on the other. The reflective side should always face the warmest side and the shades must be drawn all day to be effective.

Sheer Weave Solar Shades

If you live in a region where heat gain is a larger concern than heat loss, window blinds are a better choice than shades. Blinds aren’t ideal for cold weather because the numerous openings between the slats make if difficult to control how much heat you lose. However, when it comes to reducing heat gain, the advantage blinds have over shades is that these slats can be adjusted to control light and ventilation. When totally closed and lowered on a sunny window, highly reflective blinds can reduce heat gain by around 45%.

In the end, deciding on the most energy efficient window treatment is reliant on the specific insulation needs of your home. People who live in warmer temperatures most of the year would probably benefit more from blinds and drapes, whereas shades would be more useful to those who live in colder climates.