Energy Efficient Curtains
Do you have an old home with drafty windows that you’d like to insulate a bit? Or are you on the hunt to make your home as energy efficient as possible? If you said yes to either one of these statements, energy saving curtains are right for you. Here we will help you understand how these curtains work.
Why Energy Saving Curtains?
In NYC you will find countless apartments-built decades, and even centuries, ago. These apartments often have single pane windows that allow lots of heat to be transferred, and some are even installed questionably, allowing air to freely transfer between the inside and outside of your home. This leaves you with large energy bills. In fact, windows allow for the loss of roughly 30% of a home’s heating energy.
Replacing windows is not cheap. Energy efficient curtains are one of the least expensive ways to cut down on energy costs by reducing your need for heat in the winter and AC in the summertime. Over the lifetime of your energy saving curtains, chances are that your energy bill savings will far exceed the initial cost of the curtains.
How do Energy Efficient Curtains Work?
There are two main ways that your windows allow heat to be transferred into and out of your home:
• Light transfer
• Conduction and convection
Light Transfer
Light transfer through your windows can be both good and bad, depending on the time of year. During the winter, sunlight that filters through windows can help to heat the home, cutting down on you heating bill. Come summer, however, this increase in heat from the light shining through is less than ideal. Curtains with light fabric facing outwards can help to reduce unwanted light transfer.
Conduction and Convection
Glass is an effective material for heat transfer through conduction, which is when heat passes through solid objects. Think about how a cup made from glass very quickly transfers the temperature of the beverage to your hands – this is why we don’t often use glass for coffee cups!
Fabric, on the other hand, doesn’t allow nearly as much heat transfer through conduction. This is why putting a fabric koozie on your drinks stops the heat or cold from transferring from the drink to your hands. The same thing happens when you put up curtains – the fabric drastically reduces the transfer of heat.
Energy saving curtains will also help to block heat loss by convection, which is the transfer of heat energy through the air. This is particularly important if your windows have gaps that allow air through.
Types of Energy Saving Curtains
While all curtains will provide some level of insulation, those that are made specifically with this in mind are the best choice if you’re hoping to save on your energy bill.
Most insulated curtains are made from multiple layers of heavy fabrics, such as velvet or denim. The layers include high-density foam to help stop air transfer, as well as a reflective film layer and vapor barrier coating to help keep the inside air in and reduce the transfer of heat into your home.
Energy Efficient Curtains for Your NYC Home
In NYC we have hot summers, cold winters, and many outdated homes that could use a bit of help when it comes to energy efficiency. Keeping your home cool during the summer and warmer during the winter can be a struggle, but energy efficient curtains are a good place to start.
Whether you’re looking for something simple and inexpensive, or a gorgeous layered effect, The Blind Source has what you’re looking for. Call us today at 1-800-338-0385 or fill out a form to get started on your free quote!