As anyone who has sat next to a window on a cold winter’s night knows only too well, windows act as a heat highway between our cozy warm rooms and the freezing conditions outside. In fact, windows are usually the weakest point in our building envelopes. Compared to a typical insulated external wall, a standard single glazed window loses 12 times the amount of heat to the outside. With the current electricity prices going up and up, leaving your windows naked is the same as throwing money out the window!
The good news is that it is really easy to stop this flow of warmth (and money) – all you need to do is dress your windows!
For best results, try to make sure that the air isn’t able to circulate between the window dressing and the window. Tight fitting honeycomb or roman blinds work really well although it is important to make sure there are no gaps at the edges.
Thick, lined, floor length curtains offer the best protection from heat loss through your windows. In fact, you might be interested to learn that heavy curtains with pelmets can have just as much impact on reducing heat loss at night as double glazing.
Finally, once you’ve dressed your windows in their fancy new curtains or blinds don’t forget to close them when the sun goes down!
