As the weather starts to warm up, it’s time to start planning ways to keep your home cool in the upcoming scorching heat of summer. The last thing that you want to do is wait until the heat strikes before you take preventative measures against it, after all. You can increase energy efficiency and keep your home nice, cool, and more private with window attachments like solar shades and other screen solutions.
Here’s what you need to know about the consequences of leaving your windows uncovered and the useful ways window attachments increase energy efficiency.
Windows Are A Major Source Of Energy Loss
According to the Department of Energy, approximately 30% of your heating is lost through your windows. In the warmer months, approximately 76% of the sunlight that enters your home through your windows becomes heat. This leads to a significant loss of energy and can cause your energy bills to spike as your HVAC system fights to counteract this energy loss.
As such, it’s important to do what you can to offset this and increase energy efficiency.
How Does Window Energy Loss Work?
Windows are an essential component of your home. You need them as potential escape routes in the event of an emergency. You need them to bring natural light into your home, which makes it more comfortable. They improve the curb appeal of your house and allow you to enjoy views of the outdoors.
However, they also lead to energy loss through radiation, convection, and conduction.
- Radiation is when heat passes from something warm to something cold. This is why you can feel cold when you pass by a cold window.
- Convection is when heat transfers through air movement. This is what weather-stripping and caulking help with.
- Conduction is when heat transfers through something solid, like the glass of a window. Insulating treatments like solar shades help to prevent this.
Fortunately, there are all sorts of different window treatments, attachments, and screen solutions to remedy this situation. These can help to improve the comfort of your home by regulating the temperatures. This can also help to lower your energy bills, since you’re preventing energy loss and ergo making your home more energy efficient.
Benefits Of Window Attachments To Increase Energy Efficiency
Window attachments can be so useful to increase energy efficiency that they can come with energy improvement ratings that tell you how much the product will help you reduce your energy costs. The higher the rating, the more the window attachments increase energy efficiency.
Here are some of the ways in which window attachments increase energy efficiency.
#1. Insulation
When properly installed, window solutions like solar shades and drop curtains can block airflow. This increases the insulation of your home, and ergo makes it more energy efficient. For optimal results, you want a tight fit, with as little space around the edges as possible.
The thicker the curtain or shade, the more insulation it provides. If you opt for draperies, you can seal them at the sides and overlap them in the middle to improve insulation.
#2. Control Light
The darker the shade or curtain, the more it can help with darkening and cooling your rooms. Some are dark on one side and light on the other so that you can switch them around depending on whether your goal is to absorb heat or reflect it away.
Some also come with reflective materials, that reflect sunlight away from your home, which also improves insulation during the summer. Depending on the season, you may wish to invite more light into your home or you may wish to block direct sunlight.
Some window attachments reduce glare while still allowing sunlight into your home, which can be lovely during the warmer months.
Increase Your Home’s Comfort
Since window attachments increase energy efficiency by helping to control the temperatures and reducing drafts, they can not only save you money on your energy bills, but also improve both the comfort and the aesthetics of your home. Additionally, if you opt for a darker window treatment or attachment, you can enjoy increased privacy, which can make you feel safer and more secure.
High-Quality Window Attachments In Ogden, UT
Kool Breeze is here to help you increase your home’s energy efficiency with our wide variety of window attachments. From solar shades to drop curtains to rolling shutters to awnings and more, we’re sure to have a solution that suits your needs. Contact us today to learn more about our services.
Leave a Reply