Light transfer through your windows can be both good and bad, depending on the time of year. During the winter, sunlight that filters through windows can help to heat the home, cutting down on you heating bill. Come summer, however, this increase in heat from the light shining through is less than ideal. Curtains with light fabric facing outwards can help to reduce unwanted light transfer.
There are two main ways that your windows allow heat to be transferred into and out of your home:
While all curtains will provide some level of insulation, those that are made specifically with this in mind are the best choice if you’re hoping to save on your energy bill.
Most insulated curtains are made from multiple layers of heavy fabrics, such as velvet or denim. The layers include high-density foam to help stop air transfer, as well as a reflective film layer and vapor barrier coating to help keep the inside air in and reduce the transfer of heat into your home
CONDUCTION AND CONVECTION
Glass is an effective material for heat transfer through conduction, which is when heat passes through solid objects. Think about how a cup made from glass very quickly transfers the temperature of the beverage to your hands – this is why we don’t often use glass for coffee cups!
Fabric, on the other hand, doesn’t allow nearly as much heat transfer through conduction. This is why putting a fabric koozie on your drinks stops the heat or cold from transferring from the drink to your hands.
Energy saving curtains will also help to block heat loss by convection, which is the transfer of heat energy through the air. This is particularly important if your windows have gaps that allow air through.