Myth or Fact: Do window treatments act as insulation to save energy and money?

1. 81

   Golfgalposted 11 years ago

   Myth or Fact:  Do window treatments act as insulation to save energy and money?
   
   Sales people will tell you yes, what are the real facts.

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2. 61

   logic,commonsenseposted 11 years ago

   They will help keep the sun from heating up the house during the summer, but if you have a strong breeze going thru in the winter, you have serious issues indeed.
   I keep all the shades closed in the heat of the summer and it does make a difference on how soon you have to turn on the air.   But it has to be something heavy enough to block the sunlight.

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3. 40

   uksolarpanelsposted 11 years ago

   Which window treatments are you talking about?

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4. 50

   Isabelllposted 11 years ago

   Yes, some window treatments like solar screens, window awnings, blinds and  draperies help in saving a lot of energy by controlling heat, light and ventilation. We recently got solar screens installed by TBS Gallery. Their products are really good.

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5. 79

   Bruce Feierabendposted 10 years ago

   Yes to saving energy. It depends on how much you spend on the window treatments as to the money. Of course the heavier the window treatments the more it should save energy. The principle is quite simple. Window treatments trap or stop air movement between them and the window. That airspace is heated or cooled depending on the season apart from the rest of the room because it doesn't have the same ventilation, acting as a dead air space or a buffer from the rest of the house. This can actually be seen often during the winter where window glass will condensate more if the treatments are closed because the air close to the window is being cooled more then the rest of the room but still has the humidity of the house. When the treatments are open that cooler air gets circulated into the room air and gets replaced with warmer air so it doesn't have time to cool sufficiently to condensate. Of course too much condensation can cost you money in repairs.

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