In a city where our temperatures dip well into the minus thirties and forties most winters, it’s important to think about how to maintain the heat in your home. Regular maintenance and replacement of old outdated windows is a great place to start, but if you’re looking at upgrades with a more affordable price tag, window treatments might just be the solution you’re looking for.
Without energy-efficient window treatments, as much as 50 percent of your home’s heating and cooling energy can be lost through your windows. Let’s take a look at a few options to help keep your energy bill from soaring this winter season.
Types of energy-efficient shades
Insulated Roman Shades
With their folds of fabric, cascading down the length of a window, roman shades are a great option for keeping the heat inside and the cold out. These pleated window coverings come in a variety of fabrics and fold types to match any decor. Available in an insulated option they’ll certainly improve the energy efficiency of your home and keep those heating bills at bay.
Honeycomb Shades
Cellular honeycomb shades are the original insulated shade. Their honeycomb-shaped layers trap air, creating a natural protective barrier against the elements. Professionally installed cellular shades can reduce heat loss through windows by 40 percent or more, which equates to about 10 percent savings on your energy bill.
Roller Shades
Finally, roller shades are also a great option to keep the cold out over our long Edmonton winters. The Sonnette® Cellular Roller Shades, available at Linh’s, combine the ease and simplicity of a traditional roller shade with a cellular construction. These window coverings help trap the heat inside your home with an insulated layer similar to honeycomb shades. You can choose from a wide range of colors and you can even go cordless if you have small children or pets.
More Window Covering Options to Improve Energy-Efficiency
Consider pairing any of the options above with drapery. Drapes have been shown to reduce indoor heat loss by as much as 10 percent.
You may also consider motorized shades. Automated shades allow you to lower and raise your window coverings with the touch of a button. Some motorized options even allow you to schedule the shades to go up and down at certain times of the day.
By connecting your motorized blinds to a compatible smart home system, you can even program your shades to raise and lower in response to light and temperature sensor commands sent from the system.
Not only do energy-efficient options save homeowners on their bills, reducing heat loss is also an important measure we all can take to reduce carbon emissions. By choosing options that insulate your home from the elements, you’re doing your part to shrink your household’s carbon footprint.
Consult a Design Expert
Get in touch with one of our design consultants at Linh’s Window Fashions today to explore options for window coverings that compliment your decor, and keep the heat inside your home this winter season.