In the summer and winter, nothing is more important than saving money on your electric bill. Did you know that a specific type of window coverings can help with that?

The way you choose to dress your windows can have a huge impact on more than just the style of a room. They provide insulation! Windows are not perfect at retaining or regulating air temperatures — in fact, a lot of them are kind of bad at it. The glass amplifies direct sunlight and heats up rooms, while the chill of the winter seeps through the material and chills your home.

As a result, if you fail to dress them properly, you’re basically letting money fly through your windows. It’s not efficient and it’s not sustainable. Thankfully, cellular shades, also known as honeycomb shades, are designed to insulate your windows. .

Glass Isn’t Insulating on its Own

Unfortunately, even the best rated windows aren’t the best insulation option for your home. Glass serves as one of the few two-way transfer points in your home, meaning it simultaneously allows heat outside (or in) and cold inside (or out).

Windows can account for as much as 25-30% of total heat loss in the average home.

How To Make Windows More Efficient

To get the fullest insulating properties from your windows, follow these steps, as recommend by Energy.gov:

Check existing windows for air leaks
Caulk and weatherstrip
Add window treatments and coverings
Add storm windows or panels
Add solar control film
Add exterior shading, such as awnings, exterior blinds, or overhangs

Budget Blinds of North Glendale can help you with interior window coverings and treatments.

Using Cellular Shades To Save Money On Your Energy Bill

Thanks to their innovative pleated cell design, cellular shades create a series of pockets/cells between each pleat. Each of these cells are hollow and in the shape of a honeycomb, hence the name! The gap helps provide a buffer between the fabric and the window for maximum insulating and sound dampening properties.

They also come in singular cells and double cells, which means one layer of pockets, or two. We’ll get into that a little later thought. Before we do, let’s explain how exactly cellular shades work.

How Cellular Shades Work

Every window covering comes with an R value and an SHGC. This is their ability to stop cold air from coming into your home. A good R Value falls between 4.76 to 4.55.

Solar Heat Gain Efficiency (SHGC) is the other factor, which is a measure of how much solar energy enters into your home. SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1.

Balancing both of them will maximize your energy savings if you live in an area with extreme hot and cold. If you need insulation more, go with a high R value. If you need to block the sun, SHGC is the rating you should focus more on.

But don’t let all this mumbo jumbo science dissuade you from maintaining a warm home. All you really need to know is that cellular shades can deliver up to a 22% reduction in heat transfer during the winter months!

Insulated cellular shades are typically considered to have the highest R-values of all window coverings. This makes them a fantastic choice if you are looking for significant energy savings from their window coverings, as well as comfort, privacy, and increased home resale value.

In heating seasons, tightly installed cellular shades can reduce heat loss through windows by 40% or more, which equates to about 20% heating energy savings. In cooling seasons, cellular shades can reduce unwanted solar heat through windows by up to 80%, reducing the total solar gain to 15% or less when installed with a tight fit.

Those numbers don’t lie!

What Type of Cellular Shade is Right For Me?

There are two types of cellular shades: single shades and double. They both accomplish the same thing, but double cellular shades are generally touted as the more efficient, though less stylish, option.

Single Cell Shades:

Shades with just one layer of cells
More budget-friendly
Works best in moderate climates
More appealing visual aesthetic

Double Cell Shades:

Two layers of cells instead of one
More insulation and sound dampening
Works better in more extreme climates
Less stylish, but plenty of color options and fabric styles are available!

How to Get Cellular Shades

Do you want cellular shades in your home? There are so many options to choose from that vary in everything from pleat size to color. Budget Blinds of North Glendale will get you set up with the best option that fits both your style and your budget. Call today to set up a FREE consultation!