Cheap Ways to Block Heat From Windows
Blocking heat from your windows can be any easy way to save money on your energy bills and help keep your house cooler during the Summer. Direct sunlight can have a drastic effect on your electric bills, and some methods of impeding it can be expensive. Thankfully, there are some cheap ways to block heat from windows.
Switch to Energy Efficient Windows
Windows designed with energy efficiency in mind can potentially save you hundreds to thousands of dollars per year over older, traditional windows. Low emissivity, also called Low E glass utilizes a film coating that keeps the radiant energy (heat) on the outside of the window, while still allowing light to pass through into the window. Low E glass reflects much of the heat back instead of allowing it into your home.In addition to Low E glass, energy efficient windows are often also filled with Argon, which has lower thermal conductivity, to further block heat from windows and entering your home. Modern technology can block serious heat from your home, reducing the heat in a light-filled room significantly.
Get Blackout Blinds
Better looking than aluminum foil over your windows, blackout blinds completely block the sun from getting past them, which can be crucial in summer months for a window that gets a lot of sunlight. While most fabric from curtains and blinds still allows some light to pass through, blackout blinds completely block light from going past them. Thanks to modern decoration techniques, these blinds can be found in a wide variety of stylish options to complement your rooms. They're an especially cheap way to block heat from windows.If blackout blinds are too extreme, consider blinds that partially block light, with heavier blinds behind them for when things need to cooled. Closed-weave drapes are preferred over open-weave, and heavier fabrics such as cotton and velvet keep more heat out of your home. Lighter colors and whites reflect more energy than darker shades, so they are often preferred.
Plant a Tree
"The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now."
Adding shrubbery or trees a safe distance from your house can be great for blocking heat from your windows in an energy efficient manner.Texas has many native trees that can thrive in warmer climates and can be built to fit all needs for all houses. Choosing a tree is easy, and within a few years, you can have natural shade a great heat reduction from your windows.Alternatively, large shrubbery near windows can also be good for deflecting some of the light away from windows. While shrubs and hedges require a little more care than trees do, they're a cheap way to block heat from windows.
The Bottom Line
By reducing the amount of heat entering your home through your windows, you can save money on your heating and cooling bills and feel more comfortable in your naturally cooler home. Contact Green Energy of SA today to get started with energy efficient solutions.
