Will Fitting Blinds Improve the Energy Efficiency of My Home?

As heating costs start to spiral homeowners across the country are looking for ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce their heating bills. So, as we move into autumn and the spectre of winter, and those dark cold nights loom large we thought we would have a look at what you can do to ensure your home is as energy efficient as possible.

While saving money is obviously at the forefront of improving your energy efficiency we shouldn’t forget the positive effect it will have on the environment as well. In the current climate, anything we can do to reduce our environmental footprint can only be a good thing. There are a number of things you can do to help conserve energy such as improving insulation, fitting draught proofing or using LED bulbs. However, one thing that often gets overlooked is the part that window coverings such as fitted shutter blinds can play in reducing heat loss and keeping those energy bills to a minimum. So for the purpose of this article, we thought we would have a look at how and why fitted blinds will make your home more energy efficient.

How Does My Home Lose Heat

While it is true that heat rises and as such a home will lose a large percentage of its warmth through the attic and roof space that is not the whole story. Research has shown that in residential properties between 10 and 30% of heat is lost through windows and doors. Gaps in windows and doors are one of the main culprits when it comes to heat loss. So, what steps can you take to ensure you keep heat loss to a minimum? One of the most obvious is to install fitted blinds on your windows and doors.

How Does Fitting Blinds Help Reduce Heat Loss

If you fit the correct kind of blinds to your windows they will undoubtedly help prevent heat from escaping from your home. Fitted Blinds when installed correctly will create a barrier between the air inside your home and the window which effectively keeps it inside the room. A good quality fitted blind will act as insulation reducing the chances of draughts getting in and warm air getting out. To ensure you get the most benefit out of your blinds it is important to open and close them at the correct times. For example in Winter maybe open the blinds in the morning to allow any winter sun in and get the benefit of the heat then close them as soon as the sun goes down to retain the heat.

Fitted Blinds Can Also Help Keep Your Room Cool

Fitting shutters or blinds to your windows can also help keep your home cooler in the height of summer reducing the need for fans or air conditioning units. This again will result in energy savings and lower costs when it comes to running your home. Blinds will also help control light and glare while allowing you to optimise the amount of natural light getting into a room reducing the need for artificial lighting. This in turn will help you keep electricity costs as low as possible.

What are the Best Type of Blinds When it Comes to Energy Efficiency

Fitting any type of blind will help improve your energy efficiency although some are thought to be more effective than others. For example, fitting a shutter blind will lead to 64% less heat loss whereas a roller blind is 37%. However, while there may be slight differences in the amount of heat you can retain one thing is for certain and that is a fitted blind of any kind will make your home a more energy-efficient space.

So, in conclusion, if you are looking for a way to keep costs down that is both practical and stylish then fitted blinds could be just what you need.