OEM's Verosol shades are high tech and hign-end.
That’s why amenities such as blinds, shutters, and draperies have morphed into more than just aesthetically pleasing accoutrements to beautify a space or provide a little privacy. These days, window treatments are considered a viable way to make a home more energy efficient.
“Clients are most definitely interested in energy efficiency when it comes to window treatments,” says Sharon Imwold, an interior designer at The Decorating Studio, Inc., based in Baldwin, Maryland. “When I meet with a client, the three things I always ask them about are privacy, light control, and energy efficiency. The larger homes that are being built today have so many windows, and even though they usually have the higher-end windows installed, there are still ways to save money on heating and cooling bills.”
Insulation is key when it comes to energy efficiency, regardless of the time of year, because a well-insulated space will keep cold air out in the winter months yet will prevent cooler air from escaping in the summer. Therefore, the first—and perhaps most significant—layer of defense against the elements is the “hard” layer, or the shade.
According to designer Gina Fitzsimmons, owner of Fitzsimmons Design Associates, Inc. in Annapolis, Maryland, any time you can trap an air pocket between the window and the shade, you’re going to help with energy efficiency in the entire home. “Wood is a great insulator,” she says, “so two-inch wood blinds or shutters are always an excellent choice.” Roman shades, too, will insulate to a degree, especially when they are installed correctly by a professional to ensure a proper fit against the window frame. If shades made of fabric are more suited to your décor, they will pack more of an insulation punch if you add polyester batting, says Fitzsimmons.
Left: The latest generation of honeycomb shade, Duette Architella by Hunter Douglas. Courtesy Hunter Douglas. Middle: "Maji" by Conrad Shades. Right: Conrad's "Oasis," a gossamer window shade. Middle and right courtesy Conrad Shade.
Because many folks interested in conserving energy are the same ones who value environmentally-friendly products, there are sustainable options as well. For example, the popular retail catalog, Smith + Noble offers naturally woven shades from bamboo as well as from reeds, exotic grasses, and woven blends. All are globally sourced, renewable, and environmentally responsible.
The originator of this type of shade, Conrad Shades set the industry standard in 1956 when they created their first products of sustainable natural fibers. Looking to the natural world for inspiration, Conrad draws from the beauty of landscapes to create handwoven natural fiber shades, drapery, and other products. B&W Manufacturing, too, offers a line called Horizons Natural Shades, also made of highly durable, fast-growing grasses, reeds, and bamboo. “Bamboo, especially, is one of the world’s most renewable resources,” says Susie Perkowitz, director of media relations for the Waukegan, Illinois-based company. “We also treat the materials with heat, so no chemicals are ever used.” For energy efficiency, Perkowitz recommends lining the blinds with fabric for added insulation, a service the company offers on all its products.
It seems any type of shade, regardless of material, provides some energy-efficiency benefit by simply creating a barrier. However, the one many experts still recommend the most is the cellular shade.Although the initial investment will likely be higher when purchasing energy efficient shades, the savings reflected in those energy bills will hopefully compensate for the added expense. There are many brands on the market, so it’s wise to do some research before making a purchase. Imwold suggests EcoSmart, a Vermont-based company. “They’re insulated and have side tracks to create a seal between the shade and window in order to prevent heat loss,” she says. “You can also buy them in black-out versions to block the sun from coming in during the summer.”
For a high-tech option, Fitzsimmons recommends Verosol shades. Based in the Netherlands, Verosol made its American debut back in the late 1970s, and became popular for its “metallised” fabric—a process that vacuum bonds a thin film of 100 percent aluminum to polyester fabric, thereby reflecting solar heat and reducing heat loss through windows by an estimated 20 percent. While it is a higher-end product with a higher price, “I’ve found that once people have Verosols, that’s all they ever want from then on,” says Sam Crossman, president of OEM Shades in Ford City, Pennsylvania, the sole U.S. distributor of Verosol. The product is also inherently flame-retardant. “So it is not sprayed with all those chemicals like other fabrics,” he says, “which makes it a really good choice for homes with young children.”
Even Hunter Douglas has made improvements to its ubiquitous “honeycomb” shades. “Hunter Douglas developed the honeycomb shade 20-plus years ago in response to the energy crisis back in the mid 1980s,” recalls Melissa Sladick, director of marketing for Hunter Douglas Honeycomb Business Unit in Broomfield, Colorado. “This past year we’ve made another breakthrough in the forefront of energy conservation.” The Architella collection, which was just launched in the fall of 2006 as part of the Duette line, is honeycomb technology within honeycomb technology. “Now there are three sections within each honeycomb to trap air, not just one,” explains Sladick. With an “R-value” of 7.73, the new design provides 50 percent more insulation. (An R-value is the measure of the capacity of a material to impede heat flow; the higher the number, the more insulation it provides.)
Roman Fold shades with Contelpo Cornice. Courtesy B&W Manufacturing.
In addition to the shade, you can also install a “soft” layer over the window that will conserve energy as well. “Put a sheer over the shade to create another dead air space; then add a full-length drapery,” says Imwold. “To completely seal the area, consider a cornice piece or dust cap for the top of the treatment. It’s this layering method that really creates the insulation.”
Kelli Rosen is a frequent contributor to ChesapeakeHome.
Contacts:
B&W Manufacturing: horizonshades.com
Conrad Shades: conradshades.com
Trade Resources
The Decorating Studio: 410-593-9622
Eco Smart: ecosmartis.com
Fitzsimmons Design Associates: fitzsimmonsdesign.com or 410-269-1965
Hunter Douglas: hunterdouglas.com
OEM Shades: oemshades.com
Smith + Noble: smithandnoble.com
Verosol: verosol.com
