Home Insulation

Window blinds—vertical or horizontal slat-type—are more effective at reducing summer heat gain than winter heat loss.

Interior Blinds

Because of the numerous openings between the slats, it’s difficult to control heat loss through interior window blinds, but the slats offer flexibility in the summer. Unlike shades you can adjust the slats to control light and ventilation. For example, when completely closed and lowered on a sunny window, highly reflective blinds can reduce heat gain by around 45%. They can also be adjusted to block and reflect direct sunlight onto a light-colored ceiling. A light-colored ceiling will diffuse the light without much heat or glare.

Exterior Blinds

Exterior roller blinds are usually made of wood, steel, aluminum, or vinyl. They’re mounted above the window. Side channels guide them as they’re lowered and raised. When you lower these blinds completely, their slats meet and provide shade. If partially raised, the blinds allow some air and daylight to enter through windows.

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• Blinds

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• Solar Screens

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You can choose window treatments or coverings not only for decoration but also for saving energy. Some carefully selected window treatments can reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. They include the following:

• Awnings

• Blinds

• Draperies

• Solar Films

• Solar Screens

• Overhangs

• Shades

• Shutters

• Storm Panels

Window treatments, however, aren’t effective at reducing air leakage or infiltration. You need to caulk and weatherstrip around windows to reduce air leakage.

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Windows are the most inefficient when it comes to insulation in your home. A single glazed ( one pane of glass ) window has an R value of only 1. Dual glazed windows are R 2. Triple glazed and dual glazed Low-E windows are R 3.2. If you add Argon gas to your Low-E windows you will have an R 4 window. This is only if the windows are not drafty. The least expensive way to cut energy costs is to make sure that there are no places around the windows and the window sills where air can leak in or out. Caulk any areas that might be suspect. On opening windows make sure that the weather stripping is making a proper seal. If not, replace it. There are several ways that you can increase the insulation of your window glazing in your home. You can install insulating blinds or heavy curtains. This works well over night or if you are not home during the day. You can install a thin film around the outside edge of the window sill. Kits are available at most hardware stores.

You can install or have installed a storm windows either outside or inside the house. For inside the house, there is an acrylic window that can be installed using a magnetic seal. Make sure the weather stripping around the doors are sealing properly. I found a magnetic weather stripping that works well on metal doors. Magnetic weather stripping can be found at most hardware stores.

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