Window treatments are not just meant for interior décor but also an integral part for saving energy. If you carefully select your window treatments, it can minimize loss of heat during windows and conversely reducing heat gain in the summer. However, these are not effective against minimizing air leakage or permeation.
Awnings
Awnings are special kind of window treatments that can drastically reduce solar heat gain in summers. It can minimize approximately 65% of solar heat gain. Many companies offer window treatments in NYC that can be customize to suit interior of a house, and can entirely shade the house.
Awnings are not a new concept. Earlier, these were fabricated with metal or canvas, which needed to replace after 4-5 years. Today, awnings are mainly made up of acrylic and polyvinyl laminates. These are water-proof synthetic materials and hard to fade. It is important to find fabrics that are tightly woven and opaque.
For ventilation grommets or other openings along the tops and sides of awnings keep the hot air from becoming trapped around the window. There are various kinds of awnings available in the market; some are adjustable and retractable, so you can let the sun rays warm your house during winters. .
Window Blinds
Window blinds are available in vertical or horizontal slat-type, which are also important interior decorative feature to gain or loss heat.
Interior Blinds
Interior blinds are not too effective in controlling heat loss because of too many openings between the slats. These slats are however giving respite in summers. You can adjust these slats for ventilation; open it completely for fresh air and light to come in. In summers, highly reflective blinds can reduce minimize heat gain by around 45%. It is also important that you color your ceiling with light colors as the light reflect on the ceiling will diffuse without heat or glare.
Exterior Blinds
Exterior roller blinds are highly effective in energy saving. You can find various kinds of window blinds in NYC such as wood, steel, aluminum and others. When you lower the blind, the slat meets it with the blind and gives shade.
High Reflective Films
High reflective window films are useful in winters because they are effective in blocking sunrays. The effectiveness though depends on following parameters:
- Size of window glazing area
- Window orientation
- Climate
- Building orientation
- Whether the window has interior insulation
There are silver mirror films available in the market, which are more efficient than colored ones. These films have more capacity for heat gain and largely East and West facing windows are benefitted from them. In winter, it has less effective for South face window because of reduction of heat from sunrays.
Nevertheless, there are certain disadvantages of these films such as:
- Loss of visible transmittance
- Impaired outside visibility
- Extra care required for cleaning
- Reflections.
Shutters
Interior and exterior shutters are great for reducing heat gain and loss. Exterior shutters in particular are helpful as window insulation system. There are many advantages of window shutters such as:
- Weather protection
- Added security
- No use of interior space
- No thermal shock to windows if left closed.
Window treatments are multi-functional decorative features that help greatly to save energy and give comfort in different weathers. It is important to know different types of window treatments to find the appropriate one for your home.
