Which is the best window dressing for energy efficiency?

With rising energy prices, it’s more important than ever to find ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency and help reduce costs.

An area often overlooked is the impact that strategic window dressing can have on your heat retention and overall energy efficiency in the home.

In a study by the University of Salford’s Energy House Labs and the British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA), it has been found that installing blinds and shutters can reduce heat loss through windows by up to 33%.

In this guide, we have partnered with Hillarys, who are BBSA partners and experts in all things window dressing, to help you choose the best window dressing to maximise energy efficiency in your home.

Why are radiators positioned beneath windows?

Have you ever wondered why radiators are usually placed beneath a window?

Although it may not seem like the optimal place for a radiator, there is a perfectly good reason that historically, radiators have always been placed underneath windows.

Radiators are positioned under windows to combat drafts and heat loss through windows. Placing a radiator beneath a window creates a convection effect, where warm air from the radiator rises upwards and mixes with any cold air coming through the window. This is particularly important for older, single-glazed windows, and creates a warm air cushion.

Even though we have adopted more efficient window solutions, like double and even triple glazing, radiators are still often positioned beneath windows.

They still contribute to maintaining a comfortable temperature throughout the home, and are most often the most efficient use of space beneath a window, where other furniture may not fit.

For compact window areas, consider Compact Vertical Line radiators. Perfect for a stylish, space-saving solution that fits neatly under windows while delivering powerful heat output in a clean, minimalist design that complements your space.

For modern and period homes alike, radiators and window dressing can work together to create a more energy efficient home that retains heat and helps you to reduce your carbon footprint.

You can optimise the energy efficiency of your home by opting for an energy efficient radiator.  

Today’s modern radiators offer much higher energy efficiency than those installed before the end of the nineteen nineties. More energy efficient by design, the radiators you choose today will be slimmer and have a lower water content but will have a larger metal surface area to heat and share the warmth in your home.

There are a number of different format radiators you can buy these days with a variety of numbers of steel panels and steel fins between the panels. Most existing homes have single or double panels with fins, but increasingly popular are Stelrad’s K3 radiators – which have three panels and three sets of fins – and work well with homes that are heated by renewable heating systems, such as heat pumps. These systems operate at a lower flow temperature, so need enhanced metal surfaces to generate the level of comfort heating needed in well insulated modern homes. Head for the Stelrad web site at www.stelrad.com for more information on selecting the right radiators for your home.

Enhance the power of your Stelrad radiators and increase the energy efficiency of your home by paying close attention to your window dressings. By choosing a strategic window dressing solution, you can improve the efficiency of your home, reduce heat loss and help to retain the heat in your home.

Energy efficient blinds that helps to retain heat

One of the most effective window dressing solutions to increase your home’s energy efficiency is to install  . Choosing bespoke blinds that fit perfectly to your window frame reduces the chance of gaps, which can let unwanted light into your room as well as compromise your heat retention.

The beauty of blinds is that they allow you to customise your light levels while retaining style and sustainability. Energy efficient blinds allow you to let light and heat into your home during the day, while at night, you can close them and keep that heat in, contributing to the overall heat retention in your home.

With a variety of materials and styles to choose from, blinds are a convenient and eco-conscious choice of window dressing with energy efficiency in mind.

Top Tips for choosing blinds that retain heat:

• Improved night’s sleep with blackout blinds: Choosing blackout blinds can help you to achieve a restful night’s sleep by blocking out any unwanted early morning sun.
• Add increased convenience with electric blinds: Opting for blinds that have an electric motor system can be a good option for people with mobility or accessibility needs to allow for easy and convenient operation.

Shutters that add style and functionality

Shutters are an elegant option that can improve the energy efficiency of your home.  Shutters offer a sleek and stylish solution with adjustable light allowance and efficient heat retention.

Shutters are especially great for period properties as they respect the historic style of the time and can enhance any period features. Especially when paired with Vertical Line Vertical radiator that complement the clean lines of the shutter panels, adding to a clean, minimalist design.

These radiators work beautifully in spaces next to tall windows or shutters and make the most of vertical wall space while delivering consistent warmth for your home.

Shutters can also be angled and adjusted to provide maximum privacy and light levels during the day, while maintaining heat overnight. Though bespoke fitted shutters are a bigger investment, they offer long term value that can improve the energy efficiency of your home, and the resale value, too.

Top Tips for choosing stylish and sustainable shutters:

• Material: When choosing the material for your shutters, consider opting for materials that have natural insulation properties, like wood. This will help contribute to more efficient heat retention in your home.
• Style: There are a variety of different shutter styles to suit your interior design needs and window size and shape. From full-length to half height, choose the shutter that suits both your style and light needs without compromising on energy efficiency.

Layering curtains to create custom finishes

Although not the most efficient, Curtains can still offer some protection against heat loss, especially paired with other window dressing solutions, or layers with other curtains.

Adopting a layered approach to window dressing can allow you to experiment with different textures, thicknesses and colours while maximising natural light and heat from the sun. They are a great option for rooms with very large windows to add an extra layer of protection.

Try layering thinner voile curtains with thicker, heavier fabric curtains. This will mean you can customise the amount of sunlight in your room during the day while retaining some privacy provided by the sheer voile material.

By allowing sunlight to flood your rooms, you can maximise natural light and provide some natural heat, meaning you don’t have to rely on heating during the day.

Then, when it comes to the evening, you can draw the thicker curtains to help preserve some of the natural heat and retain the heat produced from your Stelrad radiator. Heavier fabric curtains help to avoid heat loss through windows and allow your radiator to heat your home more effectively.

Top Tips for layering curtains for increased efficiency:

• Choose optimal fabric for heat retention: Opt for thick, woven fabrics like velvet or heavy cotton fabric, and always opt for lined curtains to provide more heat retention.
• Finding the perfect fit: When it comes to finding the perfect fit, you’ve got to consider the length and width of your window. “You want curtains that reach the floor exactly to prevent cold air from gathering between the base of the curtains and the top of your radiator. It’s also beneficial to fit curtains higher and wider than your window to reduce gaps around the window edges,” explains Yvonne Keal, Senior Product Manager at Hillarys.

Add window film to enhance your energy efficiency

You can enhance the efficacy of your chosen window dressings by installing window films. Window films can have multiple benefits for the efficiency and comfort of your home.

Firstly, it can help to filter out harmful UV rays. This is especially good if you spend a lot of time next to a window during the day, in a home office.

The UV filtration properties can also help maintain your furniture, preventing colour fading as well as reducing glare on TV screens.

Window films can also provide additional heat retention benefits to help further increase your energy efficiency. Adding window films can protect you and your furniture while also enhancing the performance of your radiators and window dressing to increase the overall efficiency of your home.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to choosing the best window dressing for energy efficiency, you don’t need to compromise on style or budget to achieve the perfect finish that enhances your overall energy performance.

With multiple options, from blinds to shutters, and the ability to layer various solutions, like curtains and window films, you can create a window dressing that suits your interior design style and supports your home’s heat retention, helping you to save energy and money!