Which blinds are the most energy efficient?

Why do we lose heat out of windows?

When temperatures are colder outside than in, glass conducts the heat from inside the house to the outside where it disappears. The air next to the glass inside, having lost it's heat, becomes cold and dense and falls to the floor drawing in new warm air from above. This cycle continues until you lose all your warm air outside. That’s why blocking the windows with good quality blinds can act to insulate against the cold.

Honeycomb blinds

Increasing in popularity, honeycomb blinds have air pockets in them for increased insulation and energy efficiency. For reducing heat loss they’re possibly the best option.

Roman blinds

Thermal lined roman blinds are also an excellent choice. They cover the entire window space leaving little room for heat to escape. You have a choice of fabrics to suit your aesthetic and insulating needs, and they can be constructed with a number of different linings to ensure you get the insulation and block out properties appropriate for your room.

Roller blinds

With roller blinds you have a choice of either an over roll or under roll. This refers to the direction the fabric comes off the roll. If energy efficiency is a major goal go for the under roll where the fabric comes off the roll backwards. This means the blind unrolls against the wall (as opposed to slightly out from it with an over roll) and will help stop cold air getting in.

Venetian and vertical blinds

These are the least energy efficient blinds as the small gaps in between each slat allows warm air to escape, reducing insulation capabilities. That doesn’t mean they don’t have a place in you home. Your energy efficiency requirements vary from room to room so they may still be appropriate for rooms that need less insulation such as the bathroom, kitchen or laundry.

Fabric choice

Blind fabrics are often backed by either block out lining to reduce light filtering through, or thermal lining to help insulate the room; at Russells we have a comprehensive range of blind fabrics and our in-home style consultants will help you choose the right option for what you want your blinds to achieve.

The perfect fit

This is very important. To provide good insulation and improve energy efficiency, your blinds need to fit snugly with the window frame to seal any gaps and trap the air in between the blind and the window. Any gap and the thermal effects of the blind, even if it’s well lined, will be significantly reduced if not completely negated.

Should you choose Russells for your blinds, we make sure you get the perfect fit firstly by taking expert and precise measurements, and then once your blinds are delivered, our professional team installs them for you.

To find out even more ways to reduce heat loss through windows read our blog.