If you are looking to save more money to go on the best vacation of your life after the lockdown, cutting down on your energy costs can be one of the ways. Your window blinds could be the main culprit of why your utility bills are through the roof. According to the United States Energy Department, about 30 percent of a home’s heating energy is lost through windows. In the colder months, 76 percent of sunlight falls on standard double-pane windows and becomes heat, making it harder for your home cool down. Using the proper types of blinds can help thwart energy costs going down the drain.
There are several different kinds of window treatments you can use to cut down costs. Roller blinds and roman shades are great way to keep everything you want in and everything you don’t out. Roller blinds are operated by a pull cord attached to the bottom of the blind or a winding side-chain with a single piece of fabric that wraps around a bar at the top of the window. This allows the blinds to be rolled up or down.
Insulated cellular shades have the highest R-value as their air pockets act as insulators. These types of blinds can reduce heat loss through windows by 40 percent. Likewise in the winter months, the can reduce unwanted solar heat through windows by 80 percent. They are made of pleated materials that are built to fold on itself and contain a honeycomb cross-section.
Window quilts are also a great option. They have a blanket of quilted material that can fit perfectly against the trim of the window. Like insulated cellular shades, they offer R-value increase similar to cellular shades while being more cost-effective.
If none of those options work for you, you can try reflective blinds. These reflect light and heat, keeping homes cool in the summer and cosy in the winter. Some of these blinds are reversible, but the reflective side should always face the heat.
Another thing to pay attention to is when you open your blinds. Opening blinds at night during the summer months lets heat escape, reducing cooling costs. Ironically, opening blinds on sunny winter days allows passive solar heating, which according to Hunker, is when you allow the sun to shine through a window to help heat up the inside of your home. Knowing when to close your blinds is just as important as it reduces solar heating. It is best to close your blinds during the day during the summer months to prevent heat from coming into the house, causing you to use more energy by turning up the air conditioning.
These are just a few suggestions you can hopefully implement in your own household. Energy costs can sneak up on you if you are not careful. There are many ways you can save money on energy costs. Now you can put the extra funds in a rainy day savings account.
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