Window Covering Answers

LOW TECH vs HIGH TECH  http://youtu.be/tbj9hZAF4I4 Along with motorization and smart homes a new development may make homes, institutions and commercial buildings -  incredibly futuristic. Having glass that darkens automatically may make window treatments, even motorized window treatments.... obsolete. Here is a well thought out and cleverly written article which sizes up the situation. http://www.cepro.com/article/smart_glass_vs_motorized_shades_a_new_opportunity_for_integrators/D2/ http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/17678979/list/is-it-curtains-for-curtains-smart-glass-eliminates-window-coverings At the risk of seeming a bit of a Luddite... I wonder how long before this kind of treatment will be available and cost effective for other than the highest end customer? For along with the ability to implement this comes another caveat.... should everything be powered? Should everything be computer controlled? Just because we have the ability to power up, and cr

  Kume Curtains     This is another post from the incredibly valuable site   Instructables     http://www.instructables.com/id/Insulating-roll-up-curtains-that-cut-heat-losses-t/step1/What-is-a-Kume-curtain/     Or to put it another way... cutting heat loss through windows by 50%. Certainly it does seem as though these curtain/blinds are a better answer than so many other products. Plus. They are something nearly anyone can make for their own home.     In my book, anything that saves energy... is a step towards saving the planet and is a gift to those who come after us.       There are several steps to constructing these blinds. Not very difficult and they can be constructed by the non sewer. So. What might have seemed daunting... well it is more about having a little time to do .... one. Just one of these window treatments might make a difference in your heating or cooling bill. 

      http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-A-Motorized-Window-Blinds-Controller-For-Les/         Inventive Blind Makers   A new year brings out my delight in those who push the envelope when it comes to covering windows. This post is all about those new ways of making blinds work for you. This entire post comes from a world changing website:     INSTRUCTABLES   http://www.instructables.com/     This is where do-it-yourselfers and other inventive people are working out the future, one person at a time, one project at a time and posting their delightful results. Ah the world is filled with magnificent minds!     Here is a short list of projects that may interest you. Initially I searched blinds and got a wonderful page of new projects. That might be the way for you to go.   Here is the link for that.      http://www.instructables.com/howto/blinds/     So alternatively here is a  short list of formidable blind hacks that you can tr

Power up your windows     Okay. This is not for everyone. And maybe it is not for anyone who has small children around. But it is great!   As the demographic changes from middle aged to elderly the need for such devices is going to become greater. Wow! I am so impressed with the ease of this.   From HACKAWEEK TV, the 5 Minute Power Blind. I also found this..... So delightful when you see someone young making the future. I loved this. No it is not perfect, but it is very inexpensive. Motorization has been around about 30 years but it has only taken off with the advent of Smart Homes. Somfy Systems is just one of several manufacturers that is bringing the future into our homes. Of course motorization comes with roller shades, panel tracks, vertical blinds and roman shades as well. Check out the youtube videos for this manufacturer, there is a wide variety of styles and methods available.

3-D Printing, Solar Power and Window Coverings http://www.3dprinterworld.com/article/solar-power-organic-photovoltaics-and-3d-printing So, okay we are not here yet. But we are definitely closer than we once were. Imagine it... a world in which 3-D printing could quite possibly revolutionize not just what we wear but also what we put at the window. Organic photovoltaics created at the NLP in Britain seem to make the promise that even on cloudy days, solar energy can be manufactured. Here is the link to the article that outlines just how this might proceed. http://www.3dprinterworld.com/article/solar-power-organic-photovoltaics-and-3d-printing Several years ago when I began this blog I used to muse about how cool it would be for windows to create solar power. In subsequent years new technologies began to appear that began to revolutionize what we do at the window. Now several companies seem to be heading in that direction. 3-D Printing will revolutionize how we manufact

H ow to make a Laminated Roller Shade This is a fine video about how to make your own roller shade. The company here offers all the tools that you need to complete this project. It strikes me that many ready to go roller shades could be utilized in this way, saving money and time.  I haven't tried this yet but I will.... it would be ideal for my own window in my front door. Here is the link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH50yzgeDyA   One of the reasons for having roller shades at the window is energy saving. When you add a layer of vinyl at the window you are breaking the otherwise automatic heat transfer that goes from inside to outside. The vinyl creates an air pocket next to the window that slows the transfer of heat because it creates dead air space. Dead air space slows the convection that often occurs at the window as heated air rises and cold air falls. Hence the dreaded draft at the windows.

    Transparent Solar Cells      http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/188667-a-fully-transparent-solar-cell-that-could-make-every-window-and-screen-a-power-source The link above which takes you to an article from Extremetech.com Recent advances from the University of Michigan promise a new direction for window technologies. Driving the need to replace fossil with solar energy has become a direction for some researchers, and this looks very promising. Although making windows that will create solar power is not happening this year... it appears we are all getting a bit closer. From UCLA a couple of years before this, Professor Yang Yang and his group invented a different transparent solar cell. Here is the link to this article. http://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/sci/transparent-solar-cells-turn-windows-power-sources.html