What is the best energy saving shades for windows? Honeycomb or wood/bamboo?

4 Responses to “What is the best energy saving shades for windows? Honeycomb or wood/bamboo?”

1. Zacm says:

   September 1, 2011 at 4:03 am

   There are separate answers for different seasons. In the summer you want to allow the least amount of light in as possible while also preventing thermal energy (heat) from getting in. If you have single pane windows( 1 piece of glass) you are kind of screwed because they are very poor insulators and it is next to impossible to not allow heat in, however if you place plastic over the window with a small gap you will trap air between the glass and the plastic and air is a good insulator but you obviously cant use the window. If you have double pane windows (2 pieces of glass with air in between) the best thing to do is use an exterior shade because the light never gets through the window, if you cant do that use a white shade because white does not absorb light it reflects it. I would think the best would be the white plastic type because they are machine made so the gap between slats is the least of all of them which will in turn let the least amount of light through. In the summer the best thing to do, if it gets cool at night, is open all the windows in the house allow the cool air to enter and before it starts to warm up close them. Also if you are not home do not leave a fan on. A fan does not cool the room it heats the room. This seems counter-intuitive but all a fan does is move air past your skin which removes the air that has been warmed from your body heat and replaces it with air that is the temperature of the room making you feel cooler. If you aren’t there for the fan to blow on you the room is getting warmer.

   In the winter you need to use plastic over the windows or cover them with a fabric type shade which will shield the cold window from the room somewhat.

   The best thing to do is get double pane windows. An air conditioner and a heater.
2. Jenny C says:

   September 1, 2011 at 4:50 am

   Hi, I would say cellular window shades are the best insulator as their honeycomb shape traps air which acts as an insulator to the outside. They keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer http://www.windowshadesblind.com/cellular-window-shades.html Hope this helps.
3. Danmer Shutters says:

   September 1, 2011 at 5:37 am

   Have you thought about installing shutters for your windows? Not only are they more effective at saving energy than blinds/shades, they last longer and are beautiful to look at. If you’re looking for the best energy saving shutters, I would have to recommend Thermalite shutters (http://bit.ly/jRk61U). Thermalite shutters are 3 times the insulation of wood for the most energy efficient homes possible. If you’re more into wood shutters, then you can choose hardwood shutters. These insulate more than draperies or energy efficient blinds to support energy efficient homes. If you aren’t familiar with shutters, they are solid window coverings that consist of a frame surrounding an inset of fabric, glass, a solid panel, or most traditionally, louvers. Shutters can be hinged and movable or fixed in place, and can be placed either on the interior or exterior of your home. Here are pictures of shutters (http://bit.ly/lSuo8x) if you’re interested.
4. Joseph Coulam says:

   September 1, 2011 at 6:16 am

   Cell Shades. They even make a honeycomb cell shade called a ComforTrack shade that has side tracks to insulate better by not letting any heat loss/gain between the window frame and the window blinds.