Some people may think that turning up their air conditioner is the easiest way to combat climate change. Others instead look for ways to be “eco-cool,” feeling cooler in their homes while also looking stylish as part of the movement for planetary solutions.
The use of window coverings can be a stylish and effective way to cool your home without using air conditioners.
Close window covers during hot hours, then open them and the windows to allow cool night air in. This will reduce the temperature of your home. Insect screens and frames mounted with screws prevent intrusion.
In the past companies would specialize in certain types of window treatments. Since decorating trends, product lines, and styles are changing as rapidly as the fashions in clothing, businesses tend to sell a wide variety of window coverings.
Ken Hill, the owner of 805 Shutters in Santa Rosa Valley, near Camarillo and Lani Terry, the design consultant at Drapery Affair in Ventura, have both praised the insulation properties of window treatments that are neither shutters nor drapes. Both pointed out advances made in “honeycomb design” or “cellular” shades.
Pockets in the shades allow air to be held. Fabric liners, typically for blackouts, provide additional insulation. However, they make the covering less functional for daytime usage. With no liner, window coverings can block out heat and still let in sufficient daylight for a little sunshine. You may be eligible for incentives from your dealer.
My cellular shades have a blackout roller shade installed in parallel to them. This is used for insulation and blocking out the bright lights of my neighbourhood at night. When I want to let cool breezes into my house, I open it at the bottom with the window on the 2nd floor open.
The blinds can either be vertically or horizontally installed and can be raised or lowered in a variety of ways. Blinds can be motorized electronically. However, Hill cautions: “The more moving parts, the more likely it is to break.”
Hill, who is a Norman Shades dealer, and Terry who represents HunterDouglas both emphasize the value of a solid warranty. They say that the best way to demonstrate the durability and quality of their products are through dependable warranties.
If the shade has a feature that allows it to be reset, this can easily fix a common issue with cords tangled and misaligned. The cords of some blinds will realign if they are pulled away from the window and fully extended.
Shades often depend on the smooth operation of a cord running through a mechanical device called a “motor,” even in products not using an electronic motor. It is useful to lubricate this motor because it sometimes sticks. Hill says to use a spray based on silicon, and that other sprays such as WD-40 may attract dirt.
Before attempting any more complex repairs, consult your local dealer. Certain actions may void warranty or worsen problems. Consult your dealer or the product website for more information.
Although draperies are more energy efficient than blinds, they do not filter the light. Instead, their thick liners stop it. The draperies also collect dust. Pleat construction shouldn’t be washed at home due to delicate construction, Terry said. “Pleats can distort,” she said. Terry suggests hiring an expert local cleaner with drapery experience.
Plantation shutters made of traditional wood can become distorted when exposed to moisture. “Just the moisture in the air, if you live near the beach, can be enough to cause expansion and contraction of plantation shutters,” Terry said. The wood shutters can stop working properly due to the distortion.
“Everywhere you see light coming through closed shutters, that’s also where air is coming through,” Terry said, noting why wooden shutters, especially older ones, lack great insulating properties.
Vinyl shutters or composites made of wood and plastic that look like vinyl may not seem to be the best option for environmental protection, but they have many environmental advantages. The shutters are very durable, as they do not flake or crack over time. Many shutters are motorized, which is useful for windows that are hard to reach.
David Goldstein, an environmental resource analyst with the Ventura County Public Works Agency, can be reached at 805-658-4312 or [email protected].