Homeowners are often shocked to learn that about 30% of their heating energy is lost through their home’s windows in the winter. In the summer, over three-quarters of the sunlight headed in your direction will enter through the windows and heat the inside of your home. This is why blockout curtains are a viable option year-round.

This heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer will strain your heating and cooling system and require it to use more energy to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. How can you conserve energy and lower your utility bills? Consider installing energy efficient curtains!

How Do Energy Efficient Curtains Work?

Curtains are fabric window treatments that are designed to fit the exact shape and size of a window. There are many different styles of curtains, including those that are designed to improve the energy efficiency of your home. These special curtains are lined with various fabrics that can block heat from entering and exiting your home through the windows. By preventing heat loss and gain, energy efficient curtains can help homeowners save energy and cut heating and cooling costs.

How to Choose the Right Energy Efficient Curtains

Pay close attention to the fabric that is used to line the curtains when purchasing these window treatments. If you want to prevent both heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter, choose curtains that are lined with a mid-weight or heavy-weight spongy material. This type of material will block the sunlight in the summer and keep heat inside your home in the winter.

If you are primarily concerned with heat gain in the summer, choose curtains that are lined with a light-colored solar backing. Dark colors absorb heat, whereas light colors reflect it. If the lining is light-colored, it will reflect the sunlight directed at your home before it has a chance to enter.

Make sure you carefully measure your windows before purchasing energy efficient curtains. The curtains must cover every inch of the window or they will not work in the way they are intended.

Tips For Using Energy Efficient Curtains

Hang the curtains as close to the windows as possible to maximize their effectiveness. You can also use Velcro or magnetic tape to attach the curtains to the sides of the window. This will ensure that heat cannot sneak around the sides of the curtains in order to enter or exit your home.

Simply installing the curtains is not enough to reduce your heat loss and gain—you must use the curtains properly, too! In the summer, remember to close the curtains on the windows that receive direct sunlight. If the curtains are open, they will not block sunlight from heating up your home.

Some curtains can remain open during the day in the winter. If the windows are in direct sunlight, keep the curtains open so the heat from the sun can warm up your home. However, it’s best to close the curtains on the windows that do not receive sunlight. Furthermore, all of the curtains in your home should be closed at night during the winter so you can keep warm while you sleep.

The bottom line? These curtains are a great option for homeowners who want to make their windows more energy efficient without spending thousands of dollars on new windows. Plus, energy efficient curtains come in thousands of colors, fabrics, and patterns, so it shouldn’t be hard to find a style that complements the rest of your home!