Improve Window Efficiency | Windows light and warmth

Windows let in useful warmth and light in winter, but in warmer weather sometimes this can be too much. Heat gain through an uncovered window in summer can be 100 times greater than through the same area of insulated wall. In winter windows can allow up to 40% of your heat to leak out. This means you’ll be using more energy to keep your home comfortable and paying higher energy bills.

• Avoid much of your winter heat going out the window
• Improve the comfort of your home
• Save on heating and cooling costs

Snug-fitting blinds or shutters on windows can prevent heat loss and gain, as they trap a layer of still air next to the window. Window furnishings are a good way to deal with problems with existing windows. Certain products will give great thermal protection and certain colours such as white or near-white on the outside or blinds that have a reflective surface will reflect more heat back outside.

If you’re installing blinds, look for an insulating fabric and ensure they’re well-fitted to restrict air movement around the window to prevent unwanted heat loss or gain. For an energy-efficient option honeycomb or cellular blinds are an excellent choice. The cellular structure creates a pocket of air, which naturally reduces heat transference and act like a double-glazed window.

Shutters are another option and can be installed either inside or outside the home but in either case must fit snugly against the window frame. ABS shutters have a cellular structure, which creates pockets of air, providing a very high level of thermal resistance. This will also provide heat loss in winter and keep the room cooler in summer. The energy savings and resulting reduced heating/cooling costs can also be very beneficial. Shutters are ideal not just for insulation and privacy but they also offer an elegant solution for the security-conscious.