Window Covering Answers

Solarize Inflector Window Systems.     It gets cold in Maine. Really cold. This product is a great testament to the reality that Yankee ingenuity still lives.  I don't know when I have been so thrilled with a product. This seems like a great answer to those of us who live in cold climates and who need greater savings on our energy costs.     http://www.shoreenergy.ca/inflector_blinds.html http://solarizewindowinsulators.com/    

Patio Doors and Foiling Heat Loss With the onslaught of cold weather I am always searching for ways that we can save heat and energy at the window. Patio doors although delightful are a minus in the winter time. The large window expanse is often cold and drafty. Now I know that not everyone will want to see the shiny aluminum as part of their décor. However, these shutters can save you money. I might add another set of curtains over the shiny shutters just to make the room a little less austere.  But the basic principles are exactly what is needed for patio doors. Saving energy at the window means we are lowering our carbon footprint too! http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Conservation/Astrofoil/AstrofoilShutters.htm

How to make your Own Thermal Curtains  I am always looking for new ways of creating value at the window when we are talking energy savings. Here is a delightful article and video that shows exactly how to improve your heat savings at the window. The basic principles are all here. http://www.appropedia.org/How_to_make_awesome_thermal_curtains                        

Insulated window shutters   And now for something completely different!   I have long been a fan of insulated shutters. Mostly shutters follow a plantation design, but in the north where winters are very cold... some windows are just a recipe for heat loss.   So tonight,  I am adding this small video which shows an early prototype of what is really needed in homes today. Cheap oil is gone, energy saving is in and this is one way to do it.   Other methods include this one from Mother Earth News:     http://www.motherearthnews.com/green-homes/thermal-panel-window-insulation.aspx#axzz2krViIpYr       And from Lifehacker:   http://lifehacker.com/5949581/diy-insulating-door-or-window-shutters     As I poke around the Net, I will be posting more versions of do it yourself shutters.... 

Cornices as a way to stop drafts One of the ways to eliminate heat from exiting through the window is to use a decorative cornice. Sitting at the top of a window it can be a solid barrier to heat that rises. Usually cornices are expensive or easily outdated. The following video shows a versatile and easy to make cornice that you can use and update many times. What a treat! This video link below shows how easy this product is to make. It seems very innovative to me.  Sometimes just having a simple kit to follow makes all the difference. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyHpYbkMxOs http://www.youtube.com/watch? http://www.youtube.com/watch?

File this under CHEAP and EASY!         http://vertigodesignevolution.blogspot.ca/2008/10/great-idea-diy-vinyl-shade-decals.html     In my search on the Net to find easy and inexpensive (thrifty) ways to improve your window coverings I realized that one of the best ways to stop heat from leaving through the windows is to install an inexpensive roller blind. Not only do inexpensive vinyl roller shades block heat transfer at the window fairly effectively, they are a wonderful canvas for whatever you might want to create! Of course choosing to install this shade as an outside mount, instead of inside the trim or recessed, adds an additional advantage to overall draft blocking. To do this effectively you want to make your vinyl shade cloth portion exactly the same width as the outside measurement of the window trim. Or even wider. But let's not get caught up in these details. Just remember that an inside vinyl shade tends to curl at its edges over time and offe

Sites that offer energy saving tips for window coverings. In an effort to reduce energy costs at the window you might find that insulated curtains do a better job than most blinds.  Except for cellular blinds which offer an R-value of between 2.5 to 5, curtains offer greater savings.  Part of this is due to the tight weave, the vinyl backing, and also because curtains tend to have air pockets within the folds of fabric. http://www.dantehill.com/drapery-panels/images/prepared-drapery-panels.jpg Adding a sheer or voile at the window increases dead air between the window and the curtain, plus the cold then travels down the sheer to the floor instead of directly from the cold pane of glass into the room. Yes. I know sheers are not as popular as they once were in the fashion world, but there are beautiful and modern designs that will give you both privacy during the day and added insulation during the dark nights.   http://www.woodyattcurtains.com/articles/wp-content/upl