Sun Shades
May 22nd, 2009 | By Greg Primm | Category: Heating and Cooling, Lead
According to some sources (here), up to 48% of a homes heat gain comes from windows. This will vary greatly depending on the quality of windows in your home as well as the orientation of your house.
Single paned windows will conduct much more heat than double paned windows. Low E windows are one step better. But what to do if installing new windows is not in the budget?
Try solar (or “sun”) shades. This is a general term for any sort of shading device that reflects solar heat away from the house. We have them installed at our office for some floor-to-ceiling windows and they work great.
You could use them as merely roll-up type shades on the inside of your house, a screen on the outside of the window that is darkened to prevent light from coming through, or even a window film that is tinted to keep out the heat.
Here’s a link to a manufacturer for additional information. A friend of mine has a window that could use one. I think I’ll give him a call . . .
Photo credit: katman1972
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You are so incredibly right! Most of the insulation failure in any home is from the windows, whether it’s letting the heat or the cold in, either way it’s terrible for you energy efficiency. I’m thinking about getting some nice solar shades, like the ones you mentioned, for our home in hopes of cutting our energy bill down.