A hot Central Texas summer day pushes us to find refuge in the shade where it's a few degrees cooler. The same applies to your home as well. Window treatments will shade the interior of your home, shielding it from the sunlight that forces you to turn up your air conditioner. Around half of a home's heating and cooling can be lost through windows, which wastes more energy. But Origin Hi-Fi offers window treatments that will help you lower your reliance on air conditioning so you can keep your home at a comfortable temperature without losing money on energy management. Here are some of our favorite automated shading solutions that effectively maintain a lower temperature throughout your home.
Insulated Cellular Shades
The honeycomb design of insulated cellular shades is extremely effective in shielding the home from the sun’s heat. These shades fold up like an accordion when stowed, but when unfurled, they reduce unwanted solar heat from the windows by up to 60%. You can schedule your cellular shades to open for cooler mornings and evenings to let the light in and close for the most intense heat of midday. You can even have the automated schedule shift with the seasons as the hours of heat and light shift, for a seasonally optimized schedule. This means you can enjoy plenty of light to wake you up while you get ready for work in the morning without needing to remember to close the blinds before you leave for work. Your automated system will do it at the set time and will retract the shades minutes before you return, so you can arrive at a cool home that captures the final hours of daylight.
Roller Shades
For homeowners who seek a simple and sleek design that blends seamlessly into the décor of your home, roller shades are a great choice. These shades are available in more cost-effective options, perfect for homeowners who want to spend less without sacrificing their ability to block heat and light. For days you are at home, you can set a schedule that aligns your shades with the movement of the sun. For example, when the sun rises in the east, your west-facing windows can have fully open blinds, and when the sun begins setting, your system can fully draw the blinds to prevent an excess of light and heat from invading your home. For maximum efficiency, you can swap between your at-home and at-work shading schedules with the tap of a button or a voice command to your home assistant.
Woven Wood
Woven wood shades, created from materials like bamboo, reeds, and linen, appeal to homeowners who want a natural feel and eco-friendly choice for their home. Woven shades are also highly versatile, able to fit nearly any height or width of a window with the option for controlled motorization via remote or smartphone. Because woven shades allow more light to filter in, many come with optional blackout liners for an additional layer of privacy and darkness on days you want to catch up on your sleep. Despite woven shades' light filtration capacities, they effectively block 100% of UVA and UVB rays, which fade your artwork and damage your furniture with time. Motorizing this type of window treatment is almost a necessity due to the hefty weight of woven shades. Furthermore, height-challenged family members who can’t reach a tall window will benefit from motorized shades that open and close at the touch of a button or a voice assistant like Alexa or Google. Automated shades also do not require a long cord that poses a strangulation risk for pets and young children; it’s safe and efficient for family members of all ages.
Vertical Drapery Tracks
Vertical drapery tracks are a fantastic choice for homeowners who want an elegant alternative to traditional window treatments. Modern motorized systems pull the drapery up and away with swift ease. Vertical blinds are perfect for offering privacy without having to live in darkness, with the option to customize the material of blinds to vary the level of insulation. This means your vertical drapery, with the respective tightness of insulation, will efficiently block heat during the summer and trap it indoors in the winter. When your shades work appropriately at keeping the heat where you want it, you'll find more savings on your energy bills.
Roman Shades
Roman Shades are a window treatment that is rising in popularity with homeowners due to their modern aesthetic and ease of use. This style of blinds is recognized as one of the most energy-efficient window treatments currently available. Depending on the material, these shades provide precise temperature control and the ability to block sunlight entirely. We recommend roman shades that are insulated with thermal acrylic foam, which are the best for maintaining your home's interior temperature, a necessity in the stifling central Texas summers. However, homeowners may choose between a variety of colors and materials for their preferred style of shades.
Whether you like the idea of woven wood shades or vertical drapery, Origin Hi-Fi is prepared to offer you the perfect style that operates as an effective energy management solution. Your home will finally stay cool against the force of the summer heat. If you have questions about our range of offerings or are prepared to have roman shades installed in your home, contact us today to begin!