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Energy-Efficient Window Treatments

The money you spend to heat and cool your home might be going out the window, literally. More than 30% of a home’s heating and cooling energy can be lost at the windows. The right energy-efficient window treatments can drastically reduce this loss —keeping your home more comfortable and saving you big on energy bills.

energy efficient window treatments

How Window Treatments Can Improve Energy Efficiency 

On cool winter days, heat can escape through the windows. Window treatments help insulate windows to prevent heat loss. On sunny days, open treatments to let in direct sun that can add warmth. In the evening or on cloudy days, keep treatments closed to keep warm air in. 

On warm summer days, the sun’s harsh rays can heat up your home. This causes your air conditioner to work twice as hard, resulting in higher utility bills. Energy-efficient window treatments can be closed during the daytime to control solar heat can and kept closed at night to keep the cool air in.

hunter douglas energy efficiency

An often overlooked way that window treatments can reduce energy consumption is through a process called daylighting. Certains shades can maximize natural light and draw it further into a room, This process reduces the need for artificial lights and thereby reduces electricity bills. Hunter Douglas Silhouette® shades are a great choice if you’d like to boost the natural light in your home.

Which Energy-Efficient Window Treatments Should I Choose?

Not all window treatments are created equally and not all of them are energy-efficient. Hunter Douglas was the first company to receive an Attachments Energy Rating Council (AERC) certification. This certification, partially funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, is currently available on Applause® and Duette® Cellular Shades, Vignette® Roman Shades, Sonnette® Roller Shades, and select Designer Solar Shades

Adding automation capabilities to your shades capitalizes on the energy efficiency that you’ll get. You can schedule treatments to automatically move into the best positions to block heat loss when it’s cold or keep out harsh direct sunlight in the summer. You can even program your treatments to adjust in response to light and temperature sensor commands. For example, you can set your shades to automatically lower when your home reaches a certain temperature.

HD energy efficient

Your Gotcha Covered design consultant can help you select which energy-efficient window treatment style will look best in your home. They can also help you integrate your motorized shades with your smart-home system for further energy-saving capabilities. 

2023 is a great time to invest in energy-efficient window treatments! A new federal tax credit allows you to earn up to 30% of the purchase price back. Learn more here. 

Ready to start saving energy at your windows? Request a free design consultation now.