The Best Energy Efficient Window Treatments

Learn to find the best energy efficient window treatments — read about the pros and cons of insulated curtains, thermal panels, cellular shades, and more.

By Megan E. Phelps
Updated on August 1, 2022
article image
by Adobe Stock/Ingo Bartussek

Learn to find the best energy efficient window treatments — read about the pros and cons of insulated curtains, thermal panels, cellular shades, and more.

Windows have a huge impact on how our homes look, feel and function, so we want to get them right. But even the best windows have a hard time doing everything we want them to do — let in light and views, keep out the cold, etc. Happily, homeowners can make their windows perform better by choosing energy-efficient window treatments such as insulated curtains and blinds.

You can find some great solutions for how to make windows more energy-efficient — and your home more comfortable — without spending a lot of money. You can even make some insulated window coverings yourself.

Out the Window

Windows are often described as “holes in the wall” for good reason. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reports that windows typically account for 25 percent of annual heating and cooling costs in older houses, and can even be responsible for as much as 40 percent.

Even those of us whose homes have high-performance windows want them to work better. “It doesn’t matter whether you get the best window in the world. The first thing that anybody is going to do is change the way it works,” says Peter Yost, vice president for technical services at the publisher BuildingGreen. These changes take place with the addition of blinds, insulated shades, thermal curtains or other coverings.

Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368