Windows are an important part to every home, there is certainly no about about this fact. After all, a home without windows would be a very dark and dreary place indeed. But there are a number of considerations that you’ll want to make surrounding not only your windows, but the window treatments that you choose for them. After all, the choices that you make regarding these windows and window treatments can actually end up impacting not only the overall theme and tone of your home in terms of style, but the amount of money that you spend on your energy bills as well.
First of all, the quality of your actual windows is an important thing, and regular window maintenance is necessary. Such maintenance can keep your windows in good condition for up to 20 years or even more, but there does come a time when all windows will still eventually need to be replaced. In many cases, draftiness becomes a problem, as drafty windows can push up energy bills considerably.
When it does come time to replace your windows, consider double paned glass instead of single paned glass, if you have not already made the switch. Double paned glass can be twice as good at retaining heating and cooling, meaning that your energy bills will fall significantly with the use of it. It’s also, when care for well and with a considerable amount of diligence, quite long lasting as well.
And it’s not just about the windows themselves, as the window treatments that you ultimately select can have a considerable impact on how well your windows can help your home to retain energy. Households in parts of the country where long and cold winters are common should consider heavy draperies, at least for these months. These types of window treatments can actually reduce the heat loss found in any given room by as much as 10%. Not only will this likely save a good amount of money in the long run, but it will also help to keep the home warmer and more comfortable on the whole, something that is very much important for many people here in the United States (especially those who are not particularly fond of the cold).
Roller shades are also popular and are a form of window treatment that is not all that expensive, making them accessible to just about any home owner out there. And the benefits of roller shades, with or without the use of additional window treatments like draperies, is quite an immense one. After all, it has been found that nearly $200 can be saved on an annual basis – even when the windows in question are single paned windows and not a higher quality type of window.
Cellular shades and windows treatments are even better when it comes to saving money and can be a great alternative if you don’t yet have the funds or the time to replace all of your single paned windows with double paned ones. In fact, you’re likely to see at least $280 worth of savings through the use of cellular shades alone. In some households that implement cellular shades, the savings over the course of just one year will even total around $470, which is quite an immense amount of money by just about any standards, to say the least.
And motorized blinds are quite popular as well. Motorized blinds for windows provide an incredible amount of convenience, which is actually why most people decide to get them in the first place. For people who struggle with mobility issues, motorized window shades can even provide just a little bit more autonomy and independence, allowing them to do something, even though it is a quite simple task, that they would otherwise not have been able to do before. Motorized blinds as window treatments can be ideal for just about anyone though, there is no doubt about it.
At the end of the day, the window treatments available come in many different shapes and sizes an even at all different price points, so there is a type of window treatment for everyone.