The Right Window Treatments For Summer Heat in Austin

When it’s warm outside, staying cool is important. A great way way you can reduce your energy bills and keep cool is to use energy efficient window treatments for summer in Austin. 

Since not all window treatments are created equal, we’ll describe in detail how window treatments will stop heat from coming in. Also, we’ll describe how to figure out the most energy-efficient window coverings so you can keep cool when the days are hot.

Ways That Energy Efficient Window Treatments Block Summer Heat 

1. Obstructs airflow - Window coverings that completely covers your window opening seal off air and may lessen the hot airflow from outside to inside. Our Polywood shutters stop as much as 30 degrees of heat coming from your window when the louvers are down. 

2. Reduces heat transfer - As the sun shines through your window it heats up the pane and that heat will then transfer to your room. Energy efficient window treatments weaken this heat transfer. Polywood shutters lessen heat transfer by almost 46% and have shown to be 70% more energy efficient than wood shutters and are 1600% more energy efficient than aluminum blinds.

3. Has a large R-value - R-value rates the energy efficiency of a given material. It’s needed for windows, insulation, and window coverings. You should seek out high R-value window treatments. When Polywood shutters are closed and coupled with a double-pane window, their R-value is 6, a high value for window treatments.

What you want in energy-efficient window treatments

Window treatments that can encase the window or trap air

The greatest way to stop airflow is by trapping the air between the window and the inside space. You can achieve this with window coverings like Polywood shutters that completely encases the window when closed. What sets us apart from other plantation shutters is that Polywood shutters even employs weather stripping that thoroughly blocks off any air transfer. The video below explains how you should close Polywood shutters to get the most energy efficiency. (Hint: When your louvers are open, they are letting heat through and are lessening their energy efficiency).

Another window treatment option is cellular shades.  They trap air in honeycomb-shaped little pockets. However, if there’s a gap between the window and the shades, you can still have airflow coming in from under the shades.

Window treatments that are a light color and use UV-reflecting material

If you’re buying curtains or drapes, look for a light-colored backing that reflects sunlight back.

Need Help Choosing the Perfect Window Treatments for Summer and Beyond?

If you're looking for the perfect window treatments for summer, Sunburst Shutters Austin is here to help. Contact us at 512-549-6077 or complete the form below to book a free in-home consultation. When we come to your house, we’ll walk you through all of your energy efficient window treatment choices and help you find the best window treatment that fits your energy efficient needs.