Summer Window Treatment Tips
Summer is upon us and utility bills are rising simultaneously with the hotter temperatures. As much as 50 percent of heating and cooling can be lost through the windows in a home. There are window treatments that will help keep some of the hot sun and damaging UV rays out of your home, while keeping the cool air in. Shannon, the Hirshfield’s Shop at Home resident window treatment expert, shares how to save money with these tips.
Energy Efficiency
Duette® Honeycomb Shade: This shade was the first cellular shade, specially engineered to provide energy efficiency in both cold and warm weather. The honeycomb construction traps air in distinct pockets, which creates insulation that can help lower your energy consumption and energy bills. The Duette® Shade also does a nice job with light diffusion and privacy.
Decorate every kind of window you have—even tricky skylights and unusually shaped panes—with Duette. Our signature honeycomb shades are one of our most versatile options for every kind of interior.
Duette® Architella® Honeycomb: Hunter Douglas has a line of Duette® Architella® Honeycomb shades with a patented cell within a cell construction. They are the most energy-efficient honeycomb shades on the market. In fact, these shades are so energy efficient they can reduce energy loss by up to 40 percent. The superior design of this shade traps air in distinct pockets to help keep your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The extra layer of fabric gives the color of the shade a richer appearance, as it prevents sunlight from washing out the exterior fabric color.
UV Protection
Designer Screen Shades: Sunscreen isn’t just for the beach! Gone are the days of Mylar shades. Bring on the Solar window shades. Protect art, furniture and family heirlooms from sun damage and unfortunate fading, all with the help of your window treatment. Designer Screen shades block between 86% and 99% of the sun’s damaging rays. These shades allow you to select your preferred view and level of light. There are many patterns and colors to choose from to fit any style of home. For a finished look add Design Studio Side Panels or Drapery for a complete window solution.
Tips about Solar Shades (also called sun shades):
- Designer Screen Shade fabrics are organized by openness. Openness refers to how tightly the fabric is woven and there are five options ranging from minimal view/maximum privacy to most view/least privacy.
- There are different opacity rates depending on your choice of fabric. It varies from 1-14% with 1% letting in 1% of the UV rays and 14% letting in 14% of UV rays. Your options being 1%, 3%, 5%, 10% and 14%. The most popular screens are 5%.
- The lower the openness percentage, the less visibility and view through. Lower openness percentages block more UV rays and provide more privacy.
- The higher the openness percentage, the better visibility and view through. These block less UV and provide less privacy.
- Light colors reflect light into your room while blocking harmful UV rays, provide a softer view through, and allows less heat gain for optimum efficiency.
- Darker colors allow a better view through and glare control. They also absorb light and heat for energy efficiency.
- These shades are precision-engineered to deliver minimal light gaps and a quiet and smooth operation.
Keep your family comfortable, your home stylish, and your utility bills low this summer with these window treatment tips!
If any of this “saving money with your window treatments” interests you, I strongly encourage you to schedule an In-Home or virtual appointment (it’s FREE) with one of our Shop at Home designers. There is no need for you to feel overwhelmed by all the options available for your windows — that’s our job to help with selection, measures and installation.
Since Frank and Elizabeth Hirshfield opened their first store in 1894, it has been our mission to do the best job possible meeting customer needs and solving customer problems. Hirshfield’s. People and products you can trust.
