Blinded by the light
Here's a form of textile that seems to be forgotten or overlooked as a fabric, or at least I do. It's the world of window furnishings, we're specifically talking about blackout curtains today. They play an integral role at work, home and anywhere we have glass openings. Energy efficiency and comfort play a role in the function of the trusty curtain. Here are a few reasons to spend some time and money on blackout curtains.
Energy Efficiency Energy efficiency is huge and one where you can lose up to 50% of the energy of your home, be it via the cold of winter or the transfer of heat during summer. They can help lower your energy bills by helping to insulate with thick blackout window treatments, making your house comfortable all year round.
Just think about how warm you can be in the car when the sun is coming in on you, great when it is cool outside and that little bit of sun can warm you through the glass with the heat transfer being greater than if you were just standing outside. No different in winter when you touch the glass it feels colder. Glass is a heat and cooling conductor so when you want to keep the outside elements at bay, window furnishings are one of the most cost effective solutions.
Having blackout curtains, prevents the elements from transferring any further and allows your heating and cooling inside to work more efficiently. Blackout curtains can thwart the sun’s glaring rays from entering the room and help keep rooms cool and pleasant. During cold winter months, these same window furnishings help to maintain room temperature, keeping the room warm and cosy when the curtains are drawn.
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UV Ray Damage Direct sunlight and UV rays on fabric and furnishings, including floor coverings like polished floorboards, will impact their life cycle via fading. With a solar shade fabric you can reduce glare and direct UV from making its way into your space, whilst still allowing sufficient natural light inside and the ability to see through them to appreciate what's going on outside.
For the purpose of blackout curtains, there are so many options of fabrics to choose from, including some high-tech fabrics engineered to block out a significant percentage of harmful UV rays, which use aluminum backing to reflect rays. Window coverings featuring these materials will aid in the climate control, helping your energy efficiency, and allow you to maintain the temperature you want no matter the season.
This fabric is generally a two by two cross weave with the solar shadow fabrics having different gaps depending on the application requirements. Direct day sun would be better using a smaller gap allowing less heat and light penetration, and if you had the high-tech backing, even better for energy efficiency.
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Smart automation OK now this is the next level when you can programme your window furnishings to work with the seasons, weekends vs weekdays and desired temperatures and schedules based on your habits. For example, in the summer, program your curtains to close over the windows that get direct sunlight during the day, but let natural light shine through other windows. In the winter, program your curtains to open and let sunlight in to warm up your house naturally.
Noise and light Hard to believe but curtains and other window furnishings can shade and prevent unwanted sound and noise from entering the room and help to maintain a serene atmosphere in homes, nurseries, hospitals and offices. Perfect for those needing to sleep during the day whilst providing an element of insulation and privacy. No matter why you need to darken your home during daytime hours, no other window treatment performs like these.
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What's not to love and consider about these versatile overlooked fabrics that are made into functional practical window curtains with finishes and technology that can save you money, look great, are totally customisable and not to mention programmable and energy efficient with smart options to suit your household habits.