When you’re looking to keep your home cool, the window treatments you select make a difference. Before going into specifics, let’s explore the factors that greatly contribute to summer heat buildup in your Milwaukee area home, and how to solve it. Subsequently, we’ll introduce you to our top picks for energy-efficient window treatments. You’ll be well prepared to decide the best ones for your home!
Heard of Heat Transfer?
The heat transfer process is known for creating those stifling areas within homes during the peak of summer. It’s why most homeowners opt not to leave their windows bare. While we often attribute this to being unintentional, there are instances, such as a chilly morning when you want the sun to come in. Let’s discuss the three fundamental types of heat transfer:
- Radiation: Heat isn’t immediately noticeable in the air, but once it strikes an object’s surface, that object begins to warm up. These cozy spots, beloved by pets, are where the sun’s rays hit, quickly elevating temperatures and making it the perfect napping spot. However, a big drawback arises when the interior becomes overheated, as there’s nowhere for the heat to go.
- Convection: The movement of air facilitates heat transfer, whether it is guiding warmth towards windows on hot days or moving it away during chilly spells. Effective insulation plays a role in establishing a barrier against these shifts in temperature.
- Conduction: Heat travels through solid materials. An example is a window absorbing sunlight on hot afternoons and transmitting the warmth indoors. In this instance, proper insulation is key.
Can Window Coverings Prevent Heat Gain?
Yes. Heat gain is a definite result of heat transfer. It’s the temperatures you feel inside the home, even when it is closed up, and the AC is running. Creating a barrier between the air inside and out will help greatly. Window coverings do a great job curbing radiant heat transmission, effectively stopping the sunlight from coming into the space. As depicted in the photo above, floor-to-ceiling windows allow sunshine to extend throughout the area. Thus, warming every surface and causing the air to heat up.
What are the Best Energy Saving Shades?
When it comes to energy-saving shades, honeycomb shades are a top choice. The pockets of air, created within the cellular structure, help to create a barrier and effectively trap air. This keeps the outside air from influencing the temperature inside. When raised, these shades stack at the top of the window.
The Sonnette Cellular Roller Shades collection takes the idea of cellular pockets and combines them with a roller shades feature. They create a great barrier of protection and help maintain a cool home. These thermal shades are also easy to roll up out of the way!
Draperies are known for being a great energy-efficient option. You can tailor the draperies you select based on the amount of sunlight your home receives. Additionally, they can have a liner that provides more protection from the elements outside.
Plantation Shutters, when closed, effectively block out incoming light. By preventing the light from penetrating, they mitigate the heating of the surfaces in the room. Whenever the louvers are partially opened, indirect light can enter without contacting these surfaces directly. Acting as a barrier, shutters encase the window. Thus, reducing air movement and helping with the temperature regulation.
Roman Shades act as a barrier to any light that is coming in. When they are lowered into place, the fabric folds lessen the airflow. Airflow is responsible for raising the temperature in your home when windows are bare. Reducing the airflow will slow down the increase in temperature. Rolling roman shades even have the power to prevent heat gain by stopping sunlight from going beyond the window.
Sheer shades have an interesting reflective quality that faces the outside of your home. Not only do they diffuse direct sunlight, but because they can reflect the sunshine outside, much of the heat transfer is reduced! When the vanes are open, the difference between bare windows and covered is big.
Ready to Keep Your Home Cool?
As we are quickly approaching the warmest point of the year, there is no better time than now to figure out how you want to keep your home cool. Our team at Bazaar Home Decorating is here and ready to help you find the perfect window treatments to help make your spaces pleasant during the summer. Contact us today to schedule a FREE consultation. We can’t wait to get started.
