Do energy efficient blinds work? is a question we get asked more and more, I’m guessing that this is due to rising energy costs and people also wanting to do the right thing environmentally.
The simple answer is yes energy efficient blinds do work. In the winter they create a barrier to stop the heat escaping through the windows and in the summer they reflect heat out of the room.
The are 2 things that really make a difference when it comes to answering ‘Do energy efficient blinds work?’.
Firstly choosing the right type of blind. For preventing winter heat loss the best type of blinds in my opinion are the honeycomb design most commonly known as Duette blinds. The reason the Duette blinds would be my first choice is the honeycomb fabric traps a layer of air that less heat being lost than say a single fabric roller blind.
This trapped layer of air also works pretty well in the summer at preventing the room getting to hot, and with most of the honeycomb fabrics having a white backing they reflect a lot of heat before it enters the room.
If your main goal is to keep your rooms cooler in the summer then a blind with a reflective backing would be the perfect choice. Roller Blinds, Vertical Blinds and Pleated blinds can all have reflective backed fabrics.
The second thing that really makes a difference is how you use the blinds. The most energy efficient blinds will make little difference if they are not used well.
The good thing is that it is pretty simple to do, in the winter lower all of the blinds when the sun goes in and leave them down until the morning. This will help keep as much heat as possible inside your home.
In the summer the most important thing is stopping the heat coming in in the first place. Modern double glazing is designed to keep heat in, so once it is in it is very difficult to get it out.
You will know which rooms in your home get the direct sunlight at certain times of the day. Make sure the blinds are down before the sun hits those windows.
Modern technology has made this even easier to achieve, if fact you don’t even have to be in the house.
The best way to make your blinds as energy efficient as possible is to have them motorised and scheduled to open and close at set times of the day.
It is very simple to do all you need is a hub that connects to your wifi and they cost around £200. You will need to have several schedules throughout the year as the seasons change.
I hope this answers your question on ‘Do energy efficient blinds work?’ If you would like more details around facts and figures then I recommend a visit to your local blind showroom who should be able to explain the pros and cons of different blinds. If you are in Leicestershire then we would love to see you at our Uppingham Road showroom.
The pdf above is a case study done by The British Blind and Shutter Association along side London University and gives a great example of how blinds can prevent overheating in the summer.