White and beige living room with white polywood shutters above a white couch.

Energy Efficiency And R-Value Of Window Treatments In St. George

June 23, 2022

Energy efficiency should be a big want for your window treatments in St. George. With the wrong choice, you have a better chance of heat loss through your windows, which can lead to larger energy bills. To find the best energy-efficient window coverings, you will have to see their R-values.

But which window treatments own the best R-value in St. George?

What’s A Window Treatment’s R-Value in St. George?

White polywood shutters in a white bedroom.

Everything in your house that plays a part with insulation -- from the walls to your windows -- is assigned an R-value. That rating tells you how well an item prevents thermal energy from going through it. A higher R-value tells you that the item is a more effective insulator.

But why should you care about a window treatment’s R-value in St. George? Well, because windows are one of the most prevalent energy wasters in your house. If you need to trap in the hot air during cooler months or keep your rooms cool in summer, you have to have a window covering with more insulation. A window treatment with a big R-value lets you keep your rooms at the set temperature.

Window Covering R-value Comparison Chart

Every window treatment is not created with the same care, and therefore different treatments get different r-values. Though there may be a bit of variation with the material and quality between convergent makes and models, below is what you’re probably to see when comparing window treatments.

Window Covering	Average R-Value
No window treatment	0.75 - 1
Mini-blinds	1.5 - 2
Window shades	2.5
Drapes	2 - 3
Hardwood Shutters	3 - 4
Cellular Shades	4.5
Polywood® Plantation Shutters	>6

Source: R-values from Energy.gov and HouseLogic.

Keep in mind, the higher the R-value number the more the window treatment insulates your home. It should come as no surprise that cheap blinds, which use thin aluminum, give you almost no energy-saving value when put up against a more solid treatment, like faux-wood plantation shutters. That large gap in R-value can show up in a variance of several degrees – enough to feel an influence on your decision to change the thermostat and waste money or not.

What Raises A Window Covering’s R-Value In St. George?

Light gray cellular shades inside a white and rustic styled living room.

Two factors affect a window covering's R-value: construction and materials. First, treatments that have lots of avenues for heat loss won’t own a large R-value. For example, blinds dangle down, letting air to escape around the sides of the covering itself. On the other hand, interior shutters are custom-made snuggly around the window, which traps air against the window’s glass when you shut the louvers.

Secondly, what materials the product is constructed with can also bring a big impact to insulation. Take cellular shades, which are made with overlapping layers of fabric designed to trap air. As a result, they should block air disbursement more effectively than treatments like Roman shades. Likewise, our Polywood interior shutters, built from a solid faux wood material, can block heat loss more than natural wood shutters. Polywood shutters also has seamless weatherstripping, which makes a tight seal on your window when the louvers and panels are shut.

Increase Your Home's R-value In St. George

Does it feel like your home could be a bit more comfortable? How about a change to Polywood shutters to up your windows’ R-value? Contact Sunburst Shutters St. George by dialing 435-485-9332 or submit the form below to book your free in-home consultation.

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