Well thought out window coverings are a key necessity for an eco-friendly home. There are 4 main points to consider for your windows when turning your home green.
1. You’ll want to buy shades or blinds with low or no VOC (volatile organic compounds). More and more manufacturers are using green finishes, paints, and adhesives that do not emit photochemical gasses or vapors or that have negligible photochemical reactivity as according to the U.S. EPA.
2. Buy blinds or shades made from at least partially recycled materials including the cardboard boxes they are shipped in. Eco-friendly products, if not made from recycled materials, should at least be made in large part by recyclable materials. Consider buying from manufacturers who also recycle by-products, such as saw dust and wood shavings, during the manufacturing process.
3. Use eco-friendly raw materials. Bamboo, jute, reeds and grasses are used for beautiful natural woven wood shades. These materials are all fast growing, so are an ideal renewable source.
Wood blinds made of the North American Basswood in the United States are an excellent choice. Buy wood blinds made out of Sustainable Forested Basswood trees, where more trees are planted then harvested. A two for one, planting for harvest ratio, is the norm in a sustainable forest.
4. Consider window treatments that will reduce cooling cost during summer and heating costs in winter. Cellular shades because of their built-in insulation are the best choice for both.
Ideal for summertime is a solar shade. Not only do they reflect passive solar heat for cooling and blocking UV rays, they allow you to view outdoors. Lighter solar shades will reflect 80 to 98% of incoming solar energy. This is astounding when you consider that a clear glass window will reflect only 10 to 20%.
Up to 50% of your home’s heat escapes through the windows. Next to cellular shades, lined or insulated roman shades (because of the thickness in fabric), or shutters (because of the tight custom fit) are best for retaining indoor heat during winter or cool air in the summertime.
