How to find heat reflective curtains?

What kind of curtains can you recommend for blocking out heat? Do blackout curtains work?

• I thought blackout curtains just blocked out the light... or so says the panel descriptions. But are they effective in blocking out the summer heat? If not, what would you recommend I buy? (I'm not interested in making curtains, I just want to buy some). thanks, D

• Answer:

  While it might seem strange that something so simple can help you reduce a huge amount of savings, reflecting the light of the sun during the summer helps to keep that air-conditioner turned off, and letting a little light and heat through the slats of your shutters on a chilly December day can help you keep the heater off a little longer. Heating and air-conditioning systems are the number one output of energy in the home, so reducing energy here can really make a big difference. Almost all window treatments have the ability to shade or reflect light, but some are better than others at decreasing the amount of heat exchanged between the interior and exterior of your home. Most architects and construction specialists are familiar with a material’s “R-value”, which is its measure of thermal resistance. A unit’s R-value is essentially determined by dividing the thickness of a material by its thermal conductivity. For example, most basic curtains and drapes have an R-1 rating, which is quite low, while honeycomb blinds, thick curtains with insulating lining, or well-fitted shutters can have a rating up to R-6. These may not seem to be important figures to you now, but you may find that you can drastically cut your energy bill if you utilize the right fixtures. All of these fixtures can provide a changeable amount of privacy, but it’s up to you to determine how you’d like to save energy in your home. After our lesson in R-values, you know now that a thicker material can insulate your home better, and lighter, non-metal materials are better at reflecting heat and light. Shutters with super-hard finishes often have even better insulation than those with normal stains and finishes. Many people will take the cheaper route when installing their first window treatments, but many people learn after the first time that paying a little extra on the initial treatment can save money in the long run. It goes without saying that cheaper shutters, for instance, are usually of cheaper quality, resulting in the need for constant tightening, adjusting, and repair. There’s also sense behind spending a little extra money on shutters that are sure to well-insulate your home, as that can save you lots of money over time. However, you can still save some pennies when installing window coverings in your home if you do a little bit of the work on your own. For instance, do your own caulking and weatherstripping around existing windows and doors, or substitute expensive window treatments in the basement for thick foam to save energy where people don’t often spend time. Basically, even if no one spends time in a certain room, energy and heat is still being exchanged through the glass, and foam can help to provide more insulation without costing you much money at all. The average American home uses almost 100,000 kilowatt-hours of energy per year (a heater rated at 1000 watts in use for one hour uses 1 kilowatt-hour of energy, whereas a vacuum rated at 1500 watts in use for the same hour uses 1.5 kilowatts of energy). Much of this energy is wasted through panes of glass in our windows. Hiring a professional window treatment company like Danmer can help you save money and make your home beautiful. Do your part to help the environment by making sure your windows are covered, and your home is well insulated.