Sunlight through your windows is a beautiful sight, but it can also drastically heat up your home. Try these methods to keep your house cool and comfortable throughout the year.
Why You Need Window Treatments
76% of the sunlight that touches your windows enters your home. This warmth builds up over a summer day, and your cooling costs go through the roof.
Excessive sunlight can also damage your possessions. Paintings and furniture tend to fade when exposed to light; window covers help increase the lifespan of these items.
Window treatments block light and provide additional insulation to your home. They can greatly reduce cooling costs, and they might even reduce your heating bill in the winter. Most treatments will still let in natural light on the days that you want it.
Window Awnings
An awning is a hanging cover that shades your window. Awnings are popular on storefronts, but you can also get them for your home.
The main benefit of an awning is that it doesn’t block visibility. You can choose different materials and colors to match the style of your home. Some awnings are retractable; you can leave them down in the winter or on cooler days.
Shutters and Blinds
Shutters completely block your windows when they are closed. They provide a significant reduction in heat; when installed correctly, they also enhance your home’s appearance.
Blinds are a curtain alternative that can be turned to let in variable amounts of sunlight. The biggest disadvantage to blinds is that they’re difficult to maintain; if you bend them once, they’ll never sit straight again.
Roller shutters are the best of both worlds. These automated window covers can be adjusted to let in as much light as you need. The shutters glide on tracks and can usually be controlled with a button or a remote.
Window Tint
Heat-reducing window film is a good solution for homes in very sunny areas. These removable films apply a dark tint to your windows. Heat and light are reduced by a significant amount, but you can still see through your windows.
Window tint is a good option for general heat reduction, but it doesn’t block light completely. Most window films are easy to apply and can be peeled away when you want to clean or renovate your windows.
Select a window treatment based on effectiveness, appearance, and ease of use. You might want to choose a combination of styles to get the most heat reduction. Although you should focus on sun-facing windows, remember to cover windows on the other sides of your home; even small amounts of sunlight will cause temperature to rise.
