It’s time for another home renovation. Where should you start looking first?
Your windows aren’t a bad place to begin. Homeowners can easily become overwhelmed by all the possibilities when it comes to improving their living spaces, but sometimes the biggest change comes from small actions. Your windows have the potential to protect your furniture, boost your security and even reduce your energy output. Likewise, neglecting your windows over time can leave you open for a bunch of tiny problems down the road. Before you go all out with your plans for the future, consider glancing below and learning about the benefits of window treatments.
Here’s everything you need to know about automated window blinds and energy efficient window treatments.
While you can certainly dream of newly renovated living rooms and beautiful backyard additions, starting out with a few window treatments will help you get your feet wet while still providing a large return on your investment. Your windows are meant to give you a glimpse of the outside world. They keep you cool when it’s hot and trap in heat during the winter. They’re particularly useful for deterring would-be robbers when fortified with heavy panels and can be a wonderful way to boost your home’s ROI when it’s time to sell. Lacking good motorized blinds, however, can nip all of that in the bud.
Homeowners today are always looking for ways to save money. Starting with your windows is a surefire way to get yourself saving in 2018. The global market for blinds and shades is expected to hit an impressive $16 billion by the time 2022 arrives. If you’ve ever had any doubts about your options before, you sure won’t have them now! A study by Angie’s List found convenience to be the number one reason homeowners switch to motorized window treatments, but it’s far from the only one. The desire to save money, enjoy a higher home value and just switch up the decor in the living room all follow close behind.
How much can you save when you switch to motorized window shades? The Natural Resource Defense Council found windows and doors to account for as much as one-third of a home’s total thermal loss. While that doesn’t sound like much to worry about in the summer, you’ll really start feeling the hurt when winter rolls around. Another study found over 30 million people in the United States live in a household that bought drapes, blinds or other forms of window treatments within the last year. Your chance to save is as simple as a smart purchase.
Your motorized window blinds are able to block sunlight and filter it throughout your home in a way that’s both aesthetically appealing and energy-efficient. The Attachments Energy Rating Council (or AERC) recently stated window attachments to improve the performance of windows and save you nearly 15% on your household’s yearly energy usage. They also found Hunter Douglas cellular shades on a single pane window can save anywhere between $300 to nearly $500 yearly. Roller shades are also a wonderful option, offering a little over $150 in annual savings. Which ones sound good to you?
The motorization component on your windows will do wonders for scratching that renovation itch while giving you something to cheer about when your utility bill arrives in the mail. Draperies are able to reduce heat loss in the winter by up to 10%, adding some function alongside that function, and pair well with motorized window treatments for the spring and summer. You don’t have to worry about constantly replacing them, either. Your typical shutters can last up to 20 years at a time, with maintenance including careful storage and light dusting. If this sounds good to you, you’ve already picked your next great project.
Save your energy this year. Go with the gift that keeps on giving.
