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

Energy Efficiency And R-Value Of Window Treatments In Southern California

June 23, 2022

Energy conservation should be a big need for your Southern California window treatments. With a bad covering, your windows could have heat loss, which can lead to higher energy bills. To get the best energy-efficient window treatments, you will have to find out their R-values.

But what window treatments have the highest R-value in Southern California?

What Is A Window Treatment’s R-Value in Southern California?

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Everything in your home that plays a part with insulation -- from drywall to your windows -- has an R-value. Those digits lets you know how well an item stops thermal energy from traveling through it. A larger R-value tells you that the item is a more effective insulator.

So why care about a window treatment’s R-value in Southern California? It just so happens that your windows are one of the most prevalent energy wasters in the house. If you have to trap in the hot air during cooler months or keep your home comfortable in summer, you will need a window treatment with greater insulation. A window covering with a big R-value allows you to keep your home at the set temperature.

Window Covering R-value Comparison Chart

Every window treatment is not made equally, which plays a big part in how well they insulate. Though there might be a bit of variation with the materials and craftsmanship between makes and models, here’s what you’re going to see when contrasting window coverings.

Window Covering	Average R-Value
No window treatment	0.75 - 1
Aluminum blinds	1.5 - 2
Window shades	2.5
Draperies	2 - 3
Real wood Shutters	3 - 4
Cell Shades	4.5
Polywood® Plantation Shutters	>6

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

Keep in mind, the larger the R-value number the more the window treatment helps insulate your home. No surprise that store-bought mini-blinds, which are made with inefficient aluminum, give you almost no energy-saving value when compared to a more weighty treatment, like durable faux-wood shutters. That big gap in R-value can be seen in a variance of several degrees – enough to make an influence on whether you dial up the thermostat and increase your energy use.

What Contributes To A Window Treatment’s R-Value In Southern California?

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A few things affect a window covering's R-value: build and materials. First, treatments that have multiple paths for heat to escape won’t have a large R-value. For example, blinds and curtains don’t firmly cover the window, letting hot air to escape around the sides of the covering. On the other hand, interior shutters are custom-crafted around the window pane, trapping heat against the window’s glass when the louvers are completely shut.

Secondly, what materials the covering is made out of can also bring a big bump in R-value. Take cell shades, which use precisely positioned layers of fabric designed to trap air. As a result, they should stop air disbursement more efficiently than treatments like pleated shades. Likewise, our Polywood interior shutters, made from a impenetrable faux wood polymer, can block heat loss more than hard wood shutters. Polywood shutters also use seamless weatherstripping, which makes a air-tight seal when the panels and louvers are snapped shut.

Increase Your Window’s R-value In Southern California

Does it seem like your house could be a bit more energy-efficient? How about changing to quality faux-wood shutters to raise your R-value? Contact Sunburst Shutters Southern CA by dialing 888-611-2474 or submit the form below for your free in-home consultation.

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