The Finishing Touch

Home Insulation – How Window Treatments Keep Your Home Warm in the Winter

If you think all you need is a Snuggie to keep you warm in the Winter, you are sorely mistaken. Window treatments are an critical part of home insulation. Home insulation is a topic on everybody’s minds these days, but most people don’t really understand their options. There are plenty of super expensive ways to help keep the heat inside your home (aluminum siding, attic insulation), and you should most likely do those things too, especially if you live in colder climates. But window treatments, believe it or not, do a great job of insulating your home. Certain blinds and shades trap expensive heat in, just as they block solar heat in the summer. Plus, there are some new, exciting, and innovative products on the horizon that you’ll want to know about for even better insulation!

First, take stock of what you already have. A good rule of thumb is that shades, which are made from a single piece of material that can’t tilt open and closed, are better insulators because heating and cooling can’t escape through the slats.

There are a few shades that I highly recommend for home insulation:

1. Blinds.com ComforTrack 3/8” Double Cell Blackout Shade: The ComforTrack products at Blinds.com are approved for federal tax credit, meaning that because they are so energy efficient and help reduce energy spending so much, the government is actually going to give you a refund for putting them in your home. They are Energy Star approved. The system consists of side tracks that attach to your window frame with magnets. They have specially fitted end caps which, along with the notched sides of the shade, minimize energy loss. They are available in Light Filtering too, but the Blackout version will provide total light blockage and privacy when you need it.
2. Blinds.com One Day ¾” Single Cell Blackout Shade: This shade will not only be made for you in record time (one day! seriously.) but the cells are lined with mylar. Mylar is a strong but thin polyester that lines the wall of each cell, creating a real and noticeable barrier between you and the frosty outdoor air. If you’ve ever stood by a window that has no covering on a cold day, you know that air can and will seep in through little cracks. This shade will prevent that from happening.
3. Bali DiamondCell 3/8” Midnight Double Cell Blackout Shade: Another great insulating honeycomb shade from one of my fave brands, Bali. This shade comes in more colors than you can imagine.

French Door Blinds

French doors can pose a problem for homeowners. They cause us to ask that age-old question: “Should I hang blinds or leave the windows uncovered?” While they are beautiful, they let lots of sunlight in. Those harsh afternoon rays can raise the temperature in your home up to 10 degrees, forcing your air conditioning unit to work overtime. They will also fade and damage your furniture, especially in the Summer.

Earth Day 2009! Go Green Without Spending a Penny

Today is Earth Day, and there are so many ways to love our planet and your wallet at the same time. If you can’t afford pricey solar panels on the roof of your house this year (who can?), and you're not quite ready to trade in your morning car ride for a morning bike ride to work, why not opt to make some free, easy changes? Show the Earth some love and commit to taking just a few green baby steps.

Going green does not have to be time consuming, and all-encompassing. Without making any major adjustments to your life, you can reduce your carbon footprint immediately. All you need is a little consciousness and dedication. Think of Earth Day as the first day of the rest of your green life. Commit to green habits and greener living. I surveyed the staff here at Blinds.com, and together we compiled a list of the 13 things we do that might help you too. Here’s how:

1. What to do: "Replace your dish and clothing detergent with eco-friendly brands."

Why they help: Okay, I can’t promise that the eco-friendly brands will be the exact same price, but I will promise that by making the switch, you’ll be releasing a lot less toxic, harmful chemical into our water systems. Check out this great review of eco-friendly detergents to help you pick the best one for you.

2. What to do: "Reuse your water bottles."

Q & A: Tom Rodgers, Green Team Leader at Springs Window Fashions

If you knew there was an easy, inexpensive way to shrink your carbon footprint, would you do it? That’s what Springs Window Fashions, makers of Bali and Graber blinds and shades, is helping customers do with window treatments. Tom Rodgers heads up the Green Team at SWF. Kind of sounds like the Superfriends of green living, doesn’t it? But that’s really what they call themselves; they’re a team of managers workings towards real solutions for everything from cleaner, more efficient manufacturing to helping their outside sales representatives use less fuel. SWF’s Green by Nature campaign focuses on continual examination and upgrades to eco-manufacturing practices, surpassing government standards of eco-building every year, and providing affordable, eco-friendly products to consumers.  

After reading about all of the great things SWF is doing to help the environment, I had to find out the intimate details from the man himself, Tom Rodgers. I hope you’ll find what he had to say as remarkable as I did.  

Trending Towards Solar Shades in 2009, Sunglasses for your Windows

Get this: Solar Shades increased in popularity nearly 63% from 2007 to 2008. Why is this small category experiencing rapid growth? Because they do a fantastic job of blocking solar heat – energy savings, woohoo! The room will literally cool down the instant you hang the shade. They are one of the best and most popular options for reducing glare on your flat screen television and computer monitor (which is why Starbucks uses them), and they protect your furniture, carpet, and paint from fading in the sun. They’re one of the only modern/contemporary products that accomplishes all of these things… without breaking the bank.

7 Things You Need to Know NOW About Cutting Energy Costs with Window Treatments

In spite of the “greenwashing” going on these days, it is critical that we call attention to the things we can do here and now to cut energy costs and generally use less. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to save some money, would it? Let’s face it, green terminology can be very confusing. R-value, u-factor, detrimental energy loss… it’s often difficult to decipher what all of this means. For starters, visit EcoHome Magazine . It is a wonderful resource, filled with easy-to-understand information and tips you can use to make your home more energy efficient. In regards to window treatments specifically, here are some things you absolutely have to know to make good, environmentally conscious decisions when outfitting your abode: 

Q & A: How can I cut energy costs?

Q:  I am really trying to cut my utilities.  What blinds can help me save on my energy costs? Linda, Savannah, Georgia

A: Linda, with electricity prices higher than ever, saving money on heating and cooling is on everyone’s mind. In an average home, windows account for nearly 50 percent of heat gain or loss, depending on the season. The other 50 percent of the workload is placed on your air-conditioning system or heating system. By controlling how the sun’s energy enters your home, you can save on summer energy bills and take advantage of the sun’s heat in winter.

Double and triple cell honeycomb shades trap air within the cells, creating a cushion of heat in the winter, and cool air in the summer, which we can especially appreciate in the South.  Need help installing your cell shades?  Watch this Cell Shade Installation video.

If you prefer a more formal or traditional look, plantation shutters are beautiful and great insulators. Try either of these and you’ll immediately notice a big difference in your energy bill and comfort level this summer. Need help installing your plantation shutters?  Watch this step-by-step shutter installation video now.

Read some more expert advice on Energy Saving Window Treatments from Debbie Allmon, Kansas City Remodeling Decorating Guru.

If you need help finding the perfect window treatment or solving another decorating dilemna, write me at jzachary@blinds.com.