The blind-side of winter warmth

It’s not always obvious, but our homes and offices can lose a lot of heat through windows, even when closed. They are responsible for up to 25% of heat loss, so properly using window coverings can significantly help keep the heat in, saving energy and money.

Blind-ingly obvious

By closing blinds and curtains at dusk, you will create an extra insulating barrier, keeping the heat inside where you want it. This can help your building retain some heat overnight, making it warmer to start with the next day and requiring less energy to bring it up to temperature.

Now that the dark nights are drawing in, consider setting an alarm or calendar alert to remind you to pull the blinds at dusk or when leaving work for the day.  At home, you can ask your favourite virtual assistant to remind you to close the curtains and blinds when it is dark. It will make a difference to your comfort levels as the cold nights draw in. You can even get automatic blinds that can be programmed to shut at a certain time or used with a remote control.

Open the blinds again in the morning to bring sunlight and warmth into the room. Working in daylight is also healthier for you and the environment.

Winterise your windows

If your home or office has large windows or glass doors, thermal blinds or heavily lined curtains can be particularly effective in reducing heat loss. They have the added benefits of sound insulation and may also help you stay cool in the summer.

Curtains reduce the amount of air exchange between a cold window and the rest of the room. Air in a room is always trying to equalise itself. The cold air at a window mixes with the warm air in the rest of the room. If you trap the cold air behind a poor conductor (such as a curtain or blind), the rest of the room air remains warmer.

The effectiveness is based mainly on how airtight the cloth is and how tightly it fits the window on all sides – the top, floor (or windowsill), and sides.

Curtains with a thermal lining are a relatively cheap option; the thicker, the better. If you don’t want to splash out on new curtains, you can line them yourself with materials like fleece.

Another option is cellular shades, also known as honeycomb blinds, which are made of two different pieces of material. The front and back sections of the cellular shade are open in the middle, which creates an insulating pocket of air.

Let the heat flow

One thing to be mindful of is if there are radiators underneath the windows. If you have full-length curtains that cover a radiator, you’re not only blocking drafts; you are also preventing heat from entering the room.

Whether you opt for curtains, blinds or even shutters there is lots of evidence to show how good they are at keeping the heat in, the cold out and saving on energy that we would otherwise have needed to keep our homes warm.

That’s it. Curtains!