June 2007
- Shading/Reflecting
- Interior Window Treatments
- Download
the full article as a
Interior Window Treatments
Interior window treatments with reflective surfaces—either metallized or bright white—can block solar heat effectively. Opaque roller shades with white surfaces facing the exterior repel about 80 percent of the solar heat entering the window. These roller shades block most of the light and all the view.
White venetian blinds and white slim shades (a smaller-scale venetian blind) repel 40 to 60 percent of the solar heat entering the window. These venetian blinds and slim shades also block most of the light and view.
| Shade treatments for single-pane glass Percent of Solar Heat Blocked by Window Treatments |
|
| Sun Screen (indoors) | 20–30% |
| Colored Venetian Blind | 25–40% |
| Draperies (light colored) | 40–55% |
| Opaque Rolling Shade (dark exterior) | 45–50% |
| White Venetian Blind | 45–50% |
| Window Films | 40–75% |
| Light-Transmitting | 60–70% |
| Rolling Shade Sun Screen (outdoors) | 65–75% |
| Opaque Rolling Shade (white exterior) | 75–80% |
| Aluminum Louvered | 80–85% |
| Sun Screen Awnings | 50–90% |
If you want to retain some light or view, install roller shades made with metallized plastic window film. Like reflective films applied directly to glass, these metallized plastic roller shades can preserve the view and transmit some light, while blocking most of the heat.
From the book “Your Mobile Home: Energy and Repair Guide for Manufactured Housing—Fifth Edition,” copyright 2006 by John Krigger. Excerpted and printed with permission from Saturn Resource Management, Inc. The 256-page book features black and white photographs and sells for $20, plus shipping. Call (800) 735-0577 or visit www.srmi.biz or by mail with check to Saturn Resource Management, Inc, 324 Fuller Ave. Suite C-2, Helena, MT 59601-9984.
| top | Intro 2 |