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As the weather warms, you should be looking for ways to decrease your energy use and regulate temperatures inside your home, ultimately reducing your utility bills. The best way to do so is to invest in high quality, energy efficient window treatments. Discover more about the best treatments with the criteria of style, functionality, and their contribution to reducing solar heat gain in your home.

Cellular/Honeycomb Shades

Named after their honeycomb shape, cellular or honeycomb shades are increasing in popularity. While a simple treatment, their benefits are vast and are regarded as a versatile choice for numerous spaces.

Style

There are seemingly endless color options when it comes to fabric for cellular shades. Whether you want a pop of color, or to blend in with your existing elements, fabrics come solid or with slight variations. Cellular shades have a contemporary, yet timeless feel, making them practical for modern-day homes and for years to come. To enhance these treatments, you can add stationary side panels on either side of the shade, allowing for more insulation and a sleeker, more formal look.

Functionality

Opacity

Cellular shades offer many different opacity levels, ranging from sheer to complete blackout. The higher the opacity, the less light is let into a room; higher opacity cellular shades also keep interior temperatures more stabilized, as outdoor factors cannot influence them as much. You could opt for light-filtering or room-darkening treatments in common areas such as living, dining, and kitchen spaces while using blackout shades in private rooms such as bedrooms.

Lift Systems

The two most popular lift systems for cellular shades are cordless and motorized. Cordless lift systems are basic, push-and-pull methods to adjust the openness of your treatment. By gently pushing up or pulling down the bottom rail, you can move the shade to your desired position. Alternatively, motorized lift systems are more energy efficient, as they can be programmed to open and close during certain times of the day, such as closing the shades when the temperature is at its highest. These systems are easy to integrate with your home's existing electronic networks, making saving energy easy.

Efficiency

This treatment utilizes the honeycomb-shaped cell to trap the air in the treatment, keeping your space at a regulated temperature. Cellular shades come in both single-cell and double-cell varieties, allowing you to opt for what is best for your space. Double-cell shades provide an additional layer of insulation and noise reduction protection, while single-cell shades are equipped with the basic abilities to insulate and filter light.

Solar Shades

Images courtesy of Hunter Douglas Inc. & Sunbrella Fabrics

Solar shades, as the name implies, are excellent in terms of sun protection and energy efficiency. They are a specific type of roller shade made with fabric that blocks UV rays while allowing natural light to still filter in. The high-performance fabrics used to make solar shades are durable and long-lasting, making them a great investment for your home.

Style

Solar shades are sleek and modern, which is why they are popular in many homes and office spaces. There are many options in terms of color, pattern, and textures, allowing you to make selections that are tailored perfectly to your home style.

Functionality

Opacity

Solar shades are categorized based on their opacity and transparency levels, which are understood in percentages. Ranging from 1 to 10, each opacity determines the total UV ray blockage. For example, a shade with 1% opacity is the least transparent and blocks 99% of UV rays, while a shade with 10% opacity is the most transparent and blocks 90% of UV rays. This opacity range is useful when selecting treatments for an entire space, as one room might require more light blockage than another room.

Lift Systems

Like cellular shades, the two most popular lift system types for solar shades are cordless and motorized. Some hard window treatment manufacturers offer an alternative to basic cordless systems, often referred to as an "easy glide", which makes operation even smoother, requiring less force to move the shade up and down. Otherwise, you could opt for motorized solar shades, only further saving on energy costs as they can be automatically moved based on temperature or sun patterns throughout the day.

Efficiency

Because solar shades are engineered specifically for UV protection, so they are far superior to other treatments in terms of reducing energy usage. Solar shades cut cooling costs in the summer and prevent the loss of heat during wintertime because of their ability to block heat transfer. These utility savings add up and make your home a more comfortable space with temperature regulation.

Shutters

Rising in popularity in recent years, shutters have become more commonly used in homes because of their advantages in terms of sustainability, energy efficiency, and timeless charm.

Style

Interior window shutters can be simple or ornamented with carvings. They are commonly made of natural wood, vinyl, or wood composite. The color possibilities are boundless, including the potential of custom paints or stains. Additionally, they can be custom-sized for specialty windows or doors. Shutters are regarded as a sophisticated and classy treatment that can work in any space with any aesthetic.

Functionality

Café & Full-Height

Shutters can be sized to fit your exact window specifications, including with café height or full-height varieties. Café height shutters are popular in kitchens or laundry rooms, where privacy is ideal, but natural light is desirable as well. They can be paired with other treatments for a more stylistic approach but are also fine on their own. Full-height shutters allow for maximum privacy and energy efficiency, as the entirety of the window is covered. The shutters' louvers help control the light allowance while maintaining temperature balance.

Maintenance & Longevity

Shutters are extremely easy to maintain and remain in good condition for extended periods of time. Light and regular dusting will keep your shutters in great shape. Vinyl and composite shutters are among the most durable shutter materials, as they withstand moisture, heat, and sunlight.

Efficiency

Because of their coverage, shutters are a great treatment in terms of energy efficiency. Shutters enclose the window frame and trap the air, not allowing it to seep through into a space. They act as an insulator to keep temperatures regulated and may be paired with stationary drapery panels to further enhance energy efficiency.

Energy-efficient window treatments, such as cellular shades, solar shades, and shutters, are investments that can enhance your home's comfort and aesthetics while cutting down on energy costs. Whether you're looking for temperature regulation, UV protection, or simply a way to elevate your home's aesthetic, these treatments provide a range of options that can be tailored to your needs. With choices that balance style, functionality, and energy efficiency, you can create a more sustainable living space without compromising on design or comfort.