By Alex Pupkin
You'd never want to live in a home without windows - they provide natural
light and sometimes stunning vistas too. That being said, windows are also
responsible for as much as 50 per cent of heat loss from the typical home.
Installing double-glazed windows can help ameliorate this problem, but a decent
set of blinds can also offer better insulation. Indeed, investing in new blinds
is effective and also much more economical than new windows when it comes to
improving the insulation of your home. So which blinds are best for warmth?
Before we discuss blinds, let's try to understand the two basic types of insulation. Reflective insulation refers to insulation that is lined with a heat and cold reflecting material, while bulk insulation refers to the use of a thick material that prevents hot and cold air from entering your home. The insulation used in most buildings utilizes a combination of reflective and bulk insulation; and while you probably don't want to use this kind of material as a window covering, the principles of insulating blinds are the same.
Honeycomb blinds are among the most popular blinds used to provide better insulation. In the past decade or so, these blinds are increasingly common in homes, especially as home owners are becoming more concerned and aware about environmental issues. Honeycomb blinds are available in a wide range of styles and colours, so you'll be able to find the perfect fit for your home.
Honeycomb, or cellular blinds are designed specifically to protect against heat loss, and they are made from air-pocketed honeycomb-like material. You can get single-cell honeycomb blinds which are effective in protecting against cold, or duel cell blinds which offer excellent insulation in the winter and summer months. You can also get blackout blinds which insulate while also blocking out light. And finally, light filtering blinds are useful for controlling the amount of light that enters a room, and can help you control the warmth of a room when the sun is shining.
In addition to these types of blinds, there are even reflective blind styles that prevent heating or cooling. Roman blinds, rolling blinds, and more contemporary blind styles can be constructed using reflective material so you can better insulate your windows. You should even consider the materials blinds are made from as this can impact insulation. For example, timber blinds have natural insulating properties, while metal blinds do not. Cedar is an especially good insulator because it is light and porous. Alternatively, consider combining your blinds with heavy fabrics for better heat and sound insulation.
Remember to choose blinds that serve not only the function of a room, but also your personal style. There are many great options for insulating blinds, so you should never have to compromise your design preferences.
Before we discuss blinds, let's try to understand the two basic types of insulation. Reflective insulation refers to insulation that is lined with a heat and cold reflecting material, while bulk insulation refers to the use of a thick material that prevents hot and cold air from entering your home. The insulation used in most buildings utilizes a combination of reflective and bulk insulation; and while you probably don't want to use this kind of material as a window covering, the principles of insulating blinds are the same.
Honeycomb blinds are among the most popular blinds used to provide better insulation. In the past decade or so, these blinds are increasingly common in homes, especially as home owners are becoming more concerned and aware about environmental issues. Honeycomb blinds are available in a wide range of styles and colours, so you'll be able to find the perfect fit for your home.
Honeycomb, or cellular blinds are designed specifically to protect against heat loss, and they are made from air-pocketed honeycomb-like material. You can get single-cell honeycomb blinds which are effective in protecting against cold, or duel cell blinds which offer excellent insulation in the winter and summer months. You can also get blackout blinds which insulate while also blocking out light. And finally, light filtering blinds are useful for controlling the amount of light that enters a room, and can help you control the warmth of a room when the sun is shining.
In addition to these types of blinds, there are even reflective blind styles that prevent heating or cooling. Roman blinds, rolling blinds, and more contemporary blind styles can be constructed using reflective material so you can better insulate your windows. You should even consider the materials blinds are made from as this can impact insulation. For example, timber blinds have natural insulating properties, while metal blinds do not. Cedar is an especially good insulator because it is light and porous. Alternatively, consider combining your blinds with heavy fabrics for better heat and sound insulation.
Remember to choose blinds that serve not only the function of a room, but also your personal style. There are many great options for insulating blinds, so you should never have to compromise your design preferences.
Please visit Arlene's Interiors for more information regarding
blinds in Vancouver.
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