As energy bills soar to unprecedented levels in Australia it is becoming more important than ever for households to look at ways to reduce energy consumption. Turning down thermostats, turning off heating when leaving a room and even putting on warmer clothes can be effective when trying to keep your home warm, however, maximising insulation is one of the most effective ways to control a home’s comfort.
“Insulation is key to maintaining room temperatures and a few small changes can help your home be more energy efficient,” says Vera Meharg, Marketing Communications Manager, Luxaflex Window Fashions. With up to 40% of a home’s heating energy lost, and up to 87% of heat gained through windows[1], window coverings are an important consideration for households wanting to reduce their energy consumption. “The right window coverings work to reduce the energy demand of a home, which is the most direct way to lower energy bills as well as helping to meet climate change targets.”
Whether you’re building a new home, renovating, or simply making some cosmetic updates, it’s important to think about the role that window coverings can play in helping to passively heat, or in summer, cool a home. To overcome problems with existing windows, window furnishings such as blinds and shutters can be an effective way to enhance performance. Aspects to take into consideration include the size of the room, the light control needed, placement and style of furniture and the size and direction of the window you are dressing, as well as the insulation required.
“Recognising which types of window shades are insulating, sustainable and beneficial for long term use will assist when making window covering decisions, and can reduce heating costs,” says Meharg.
Best window dressing options for retaining heat
Honeycomb blinds are one of the best choices in window treatments for retaining heat inside the home. Luxaflex® Duette® Architella® Shades are the most innovative honeycomb shades in Australia and combine style and function with a contemporary look. “The shades are specifically engineered with honeycomb-shaped air pockets that trap air inside, helping moderate temperature and reduce heat loss in winter when they are closed,” Meharg says. These distinct air pockets have the ability to reduce the heat transfer through a window, reducing the average home’s heating costs by up to 43%[2] and making them the most energy efficient window coverings on the Australian market.
In order to deliver the most efficient benefits and reduce the need for traditional heating methods, window furnishings need to be functional and easy to use, particularly if a home has a lot of windows.
Innovative and intelligent shades
As technology advances, home automation systems can easily be incorporated into our lifestyle, using such artificial intelligence as Luxaflex® PowerView® Motorisation which is compatible with Apple HomeKit®, Google® Assistant and Amazon® Alexa®. “Partnering such products as the Luxaflex® Duette® Shades with Powerview® Motorisation can see homeowners take a strategic approach to cost-saving, pre-programming their blinds to function depending on the time of day and the strength of the sun, such as closing whilst you’re at work to keep the heat locked in for those cooler times,” says Meharg.
As well as preventing heat from escaping, insulating window coverings can help regulate the varying temperatures of the day. “In winter letting in the sunlight will provide radiant warmth from the sun to warm the room, however you want to provide an insulative covering at night to prevent the heat loss out through the windows,” continues Meharg.
Control solar energy
Within the Luxaflex® range of energy efficient products, Luxaflex® PolySatin® Shutters are an elegant choice and made from a polyresin compound, they are a modern alternative to the traditional wooden shutter. They are completely adjustable, allowing you to fully control the solar energy entering your windows and doors. Coupled with polyresin’s low conductivity, Luxaflex® PolySatin® Shutters can reflect inbound solar rays into your home in winter, and are also ideal for the summer months, reducing the amount of heat entering your home by 20 to 58%[3].
In addition to contributing significantly to reducing energy consumption and promoting sustainable living practices in homes, window furnishings can contribute to sound insulation, privacy, and light control, greatly improving comfort levels for those living in the home.
