It’s a sign of the times that we are now looking at ways to be more energy efficient with every purchase. Window blinds have predominantly been chosen on aesthetics and function but with rising energy costs, it makes sense to consider the efficiency benefits that blinds can offer. Fabric and rail technology has progressed and so we are now able to choose from many options to increase efficiency in the home or office.
Which Blinds Are Most Energy Efficient?
The answer isn’t that simple as different rooms and orientation need to be considered as well as other factors, for instance, is the main function of the blind to retain heat or to keep the room cold or both? Is the room likely to be damp, such as a bathroom or pool area?
Without getting too deep into individual circumstances, lets take a quick look at some options. Our blinds fitters are able to advise further and we offer a free measure and quotation.
By far the most energy efficient blind would be a perfect fit blind with energy efficient cellular fabric. The perfect fit system is designed to fit behind the gasket of your double glazing therefore removing the need to screw into the frames. Thanks to this clever design, there are no gaps around the blind as you may see with more traditional blinds. When the Perfect Fit system is combined with an energy efficient fabric, such as a thermal cellular fabric, which has a honeycomb structure, fuel bill savings of up to 15% can be expected. Given todays energy prices, that’s an incredible saving.
Of course, there are other options that might not be as efficient as what we’ve just looked at but can still offer energy efficiency above standard blinds. Many blackout blinds can offer some thermal benefits, not least in helping to keep a room cool during the summer months, this can save on air conditioning or fan running costs. Even wood and faux wood blinds offer some solar protection and heat retention.
There are many options to explore, we have full ranges of roller and vertical fabrics that have a special solar reflective coating that predominantly stops glare from the sun warming the room but also has some insulating properties.
It’s a matter of matching the aesthetics that you want for your home with saving as much energy as possible and finding a balance between the two.
Automation Saves Energy
Most of our blinds can be automated, this not only gives you the benefit of remote control but also allows you to connect your smart home devices such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home. By adding a temperature sensor, you can leave it to Alexa or Google to automatically open or close your blinds depending on the temperature. Even James Bond would have been impressed with this level of tech. Read more about our automated blinds here.
