Innovation at the Window
By: Brenda Hamrick
When selecting window treatments for their home, most homeowners don’t even think of energy efficiency and yet, it is one of the most important elements. The fact is 50% of a home’s heating and cooling energy is lost through its windows. Once you share this information with homeowners, they are keenly interested in the long term cost savings that they can capture through wise selection of shades and draperies for their home. There are several Energy factors that should be considered when making choices for a new home:
Energy Factors:
- Insulation – the shades or draperies add another layer of insulation to the glass.
- Solar Heat Control – Window shades and draperies can be deployed or retracted to create a comfortable environment.
- Daylighting – You can draw natural light into the room and reduce the need for artificial lighting, further reducing electrical costs.
The Best Bets for Energy Efficient Window Treatments:
Since the creation of the lightweight aluminum blind in 1946 – now commonly called “Mini Blinds”, Hunter Douglas has defined the industry with proprietary designed that meld form and function. Hunter Douglas has been at the forefront of creating beautiful options to greatly improve energy efficiency in window shades with a host of proprietary designs.
Great products begin with great design.
- In response to the energy crisis of the late 1970s Hunter Douglas engineered the Duette Honeycomb Shade to provide style and efficiency. The honeycomb construction traps air in the pockets and creates insulation equivalent to that of a brick wall.
- The award winning Hunter Douglas Silhouette Shades were introduced in 1991 taking the style
and elegance of energy efficient window shades to a new level. These shades add the wonderful feature of vision to the mix. Even when the blades are open, the shades eliminate over 80% of the sun’s heat and damaging effects. At night, the blades can be closed for privacy; and also to keep interior temperatures consistent. The Pirouettes were added a few years later following the same principals with a new design and technology.
- In 2000, Hunter Douglas officially became the market leader worldwide in daylight regulation and solar heat control solutions.
- in 2011 Hunter Douglas launched new innovations in The Vignette Tiered Architella Shades and the RB 500 Roller Shade System.
Today’s informed homeowner has become increasingly aware that energy efficiency in windows isn’t simply the selected window, but also the selected window shade. When chosen well, these shades have a substantial ROI over the entire life of the home.