Will blinds help to keep the heat out?
November 9, 2022
Honeycomb Shades benefits
November 9, 2022
Honeycomb blinds also known as cellular shades and named because of their honeycomb-shaped airy layers that fold in an accordion-like fashion when they’re pulled up are a sleek design choice when it comes to choosing the right window treatments for your home. But even aside from their stylish aesthetic, they offer a ton of additional benefits for your home.
Cellular shades are considered to have the highest R-rating (a measurement of how well a material minimizes the loss or gain energy) of any type of window treatment.
Understanding the R-rating
When discussing shades or blinds, that “R” rating stands for resistance: Window treatments, along with other products designed to insulate against heat and cold, are rated for how effectively they resist the rigors of high or low temperatures. The higher the R rating, the better the heat- and cold-blocking features.
And while window treatments typically fall in the R-0 to R-3 range, honeycomb blinds far exceed that benchmark. With R-ratings of 3.5 to 3.7, they offer some of the most effective window insulation you can find.
A Year-Round Challenge
If you own a home, you already know the challenges of insulating your living space through every season:
In summer, an estimated 76% of sunlight streaming in through standard double-pane windows enters the house as heat. If window coverings stay in the same position all day, rather than getting adjusted to block out light when the sun is the strongest, additional heat can get in, worsening the problem.
In winter, studies show that up to 30% of heating energy is lost through windows. And again, if window treatments are stationary throughout the day, winter sunshine can’t stream in to provide additional warmth.
Why Cellular Shades Insulate So Well
The secret lies in the design specifically, the blind’s unique structure of honeycomb-shaped compartments. Each blind contains a series of collapsible, air-filled structures known as open cells that keep air temperature-moderated inside (that cell-structure explains why they are also commonly called cellular blinds or shades).
As a result, honeycomb blinds “hold” the hot air coming through the window in summer, preventing it from seeping into your rooms. This also prevents cooled inside air from seeping out.
Those same cells “hold” cold air blowing in through the window in winter, while stopping heated inside air from getting outside. It’s estimated that properly installed honeycomb blinds can cut heat loss through windows by up to 40%, which works out to an impressive 20% savings in energy bills.
Customizable Decorative Options
Aside from their impressive energy-saving qualities, cellular shades are easily customizable and come in a range of design options. They can also be easily integrated into an existing home automation system to make them even more functional.
Choose from single- or double-cell designs, with multiple cell sizes. A variety of colors, fabrics, and textures are also available.
Four light-filtering options provide different levels of opacity: Sheer, Semi-Sheer, Semi-Opaque, and Blackout. This allows you to control how much sunshine comes in at any time of day, any time of year.
Cellular shades can with a Cordless Lift and Lock System, so it eliminates unsightly and potentially dangerous cords (a particular hazard around young children). To operate the blind, you just need to push a handle up or pull it down to the desired height.
Cellular shades can be easily motorized. This enables you to open and close them with a phone, tablet, remote, wall switch, or other home automation device.
In any season, and for every reason, cellular shades deliver outstanding benefits in energy savings, aesthetic design, and year-round comfort.
