Observing nature’s erratic patterns
After a weekend of icicles, slippery streets and windshield scraping, the pink blooms of a Japanese Quince are a welcome reminder that spring is around the corner.
This photo was taken recently off East Lenoir Avenue in Kinston.
Home Solutions: Window coverings can save energ
Last week we learned that window coverings can be chosen for interior decoration and for saving energy. Careful selection of window coverings can reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer.
The use of window shades and interior shutters also can result in energy savings for the homeowner.
When properly installed, window shades can be one of the simplest and most effective window treatments for saving energy. Shades should be mounted as close to the window glass as possible with the sides of the shade held close to the wall to establish a sealed air space. Lower shades on sunlit windows in the summer. Shades on the house’s south side should be raised in the winter during the day and lowered during the night.
For even greater energy efficiency, use dual shades — highly reflective (white) on one side and heat absorbing (dark) on the other side — that can be reversed with the seasons. The reflective side should always face the warmest side — outward during the cooling season and inward during the heating season. They need to be drawn closed all day to be effective.
Quilted roller shades, and some types of fabric Roman shades, feature several layers of fiber batting and sealed edges. These act as insulation and air barrier. They control air infiltration more effectively than other soft window treatments.
Several manufacturers have designed two- or three-cell pleated or cellular shades that have air spaces built in which increases insulating value.
Window shutters also can help reduce heat gain and loss in your home. Interior shutters need a clear space to the side of the window when the’re opened. They also require hardware that is fastened to the window jams or trim. Like window blinds, louvered shutters work best for summer shading. Movable or fixed louvers allow ventilation and natural daylight to enter a room while blocking some direct radiation. However, they won’t provide much insulation against heat loss in the winter.
Solid, non-louvered shutters decrease heat loss and summer heat gain. They consist of wood panels, a vapor barrier, and sometimes a decorative covering. Fit them tightly against a window frame to provide an insulating air space between the shutter and the window. Shutters can also be combined with other window treatments, such as draperies, for greater insulating ability.
Using these tips for additional energy savings adds up to more dollars in your pocket.
Resource: energysavers.gov
Trudy W. Pickett is extension family and consumer agent at the Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Office, 1791 N.C. 11/55. Reach her at 252-527-2191 or trudy_pickett@ncsu.edu.
