Do you know you are literally throwing money out the window if you don’t protect your home from summer heat and winter drafts transferred through your windows?
Manufacturers refer to the “R-value of a building material to describe its resistance to transferring heat between two environments of differing temperature. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation material. Fiberglass for example has an R-value as high as 40. Windows on the other hand have the lowest R-values, ranging from .9 to three. Even a tightly installed “energy-efficient” window will allow a significant amount of energy transferred from inside to outside. Although window tinting can increase the R-value, custom window coverings will improve the thermal performance significantly more! There are two types of window treatments we recommend to our clients to save money and beautify your home.
Soft treatments to increase R-Value: Soft draperies with drapery lining will increase the R-value for your window. We often add three layers of fabric at the window. The face fabric is the decorative fabric, the interlining sits between the face fabric and the lining, the lining is closest to the window. Each layer has an R-value as do the pockets of air between them. It is estimated that our combination of fabric, lining and interlining improves a window’s R-value by as much as 300 percent! Adding a cornice or valance at the top of the drapery prevents air from escaping the top and sides of the drapery. How’s that for beauty and brains!
Hard treatments to increase R-Value: Custom-fit duette shades, shutters and blinds are additional layers that further contribute to a home’s energy efficiency. Properly fitted and installed, these products create a barrier closest to the glass to reduce thermal exchange. My number one seller is Hunter Douglas Duette Architella shades with an R-value of 7.3. The other pleated shades on the market range from one to 3.5 R-value. Hands down, this is the best product on the market to lower your energy costs right now and keep money in your pocket. I recently installed this product in a client’s two-story living room. She reported saving $225 in summer energy costs the first month! As an added bonus, you can experience a 2010 Federal Tax Credit up to $1,500 on Hunter Douglas Duette Architella shades! Act now… this offer ends December 31, 2010. Call me for details!
To start saving energy costs today, call Tami Smight Interiors at 661-430-0127.