We’ve currently been experiencing one of the coldest winters for up to 20 years, with snow, floods and then freezing temperatures in many areas. As with most things, we find ourselves less well prepared than we would like to be when they arrive, but have you considered the impact your choice of window dressing has on heat retention and therefore your bills?
Personally, I have found that my internal window shutters have helped to insulate my home, and many of my customers say that they have noticed a difference once theirs are installed. While there are no facts and figures I can give you to support this at the moment, the fact that more architects and home designers are now planning window dressings into their projects to help reduce emissions and energy consumption would indicate that our choices can help save the planet and cut the cost of bills.
Logically a solid barrier between your window and room is likely to be far more effective in eliminating drafts and retaining heat. While a louvred shutter is likely to be open during the day, at night as temperatures drop it will be closed trapping vital warmth. The louvres also close and overlap upwards, so as heat rises in front of the shutter it is less likely to be lost through the louvre blades rather than a blind or shutter that closes downwards where seepage may occur, or curtains where there is no seal.
Interestingly most properties in Europe have a shutter of some description on their windows, particularly in some of the mountainous areas that are very cold and get large snowfalls in the winter. These are closed during the night when temperatures are low to form a barrier to block out the cold and insulate the property, surely so many properties wouldn’t have these if they weren’t effective?
My blackout internal window shutters incorporate a honeycomb blackout blind, which will also help with heat retention as it provides another layer between your room and window trapping cold air and preventing it reaching your room or heat being lost. The honeycomb is more effective than a single layer blind and is also foil lined.
With a recession upon us, I think it’s important to consider not only the style that internal window shutters offer but the added benefits and savings that your investment might bring. I would welcome any feedback you have on this, and whether anyone has any specific facts or figures regarding heat retention with internal window shutters, so why not add your comments to my blog by clicking on the comments button next to this post.