Frugal Way to Make Energy Efficient Drapes or Curtains

Frugal Way to Make Energy Efficient Drapes or Curtains

Energy efficiency doesn’t necessarily need to come at the price of style. You can create your own window treatments which are economical and energy efficient, without sacrificing great design. By using energy-efficient curtains or drapes, you can moderate the natural light that comes at a room and also control humidity or heat which could move in or out through the window. Whenever heat is coming in or out of a window, it influences your electricity bill, so energy-efficient drapes or curtains save you money since they add color and texture to your decor.

Material

The best fabrics for drapes are tightly-woven natural or cotton fibers like muslin. The greater thread-count, the better, since this will help to reduce the amount of heat and light coming in through the curtains. To save money, you may always use old lined bed sheets, comforters or blankets. Check the neighborhood fabric store for deals or remainders of designer fabric to save some serious money.

Insulation

While your drapes or curtains cover the window itself and also add a decorative touch to a window, you can go one step farther and actually insulate the window to further reduce heat transfer from outside to inside or another way around. Inexpensive batting or lining material, cut to match your window, can keep your energy cost down and keep heat and heat out of your windows. To get a cheap option, you may use cardboard or bubble-wrap, but those alternatives will fade over time due to direct light exposure and do not make the best impression in the exterior of your home.

Fit

The drapes and curtains should fit snugly against the window along with its surrounding wal. Gaps between the wall across the window and the draperies enables hot or cold air lets pesky heat or cold escape or from the room, changing the temperature of the room and increasing your energy bills. You can seal gaps by pinning, taping or even stapling the back edge of the curtain cloth into the wall to keep a tight. Make sure that the fabric still hangs naturally and the way you use to secure them into the wall is hidden by the folds of the curtain fabric to keep the room looking its best.

Barrier

A barrier to keep out vapor and, thus, heat transfer, is vital. Based on the time of year, this helps you keep heat either in or outside. A vapor barrier must face inside the room at the winter and it should be on the window itself at the summer itself. This type of barrier keeps out water and moisture vapor. Some very low cost options are painter’s tarps or plastic sheeting that is clear. To keep the barrier from dampening your window treatment’s style, you can attach the sheeting between the lining and the outer cloth of your curtain to keep it out of sight but still usable.

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