
Contributed by Teresa Roy, Cover Ups Window Fashions
Although we have been fortunate this year with the winter temps being relatively mild, it’s always a good time to talk about how to keep our homes toasty and warm.
Identify drafts—typically where two materials meet is where drafts will be noticeable. Doors and window drafts tend to be the most common areas of heat loss. You can run your hand around the edge of your window or the bottom of doors to check for drafts. Things as simple as a fabric draft stopper or a door sweep attached to the bottom edge of your door can help. I have been in many homes that have recently upgraded their windows, or even new construction, to find there were still noticeable drafts around the frame. Applying weather stripping or caulking can help improve this. Applying plastic around the window frame does help with drafts by creating air space; this will help keep your home warmer. But plastic does not increase the energy efficiency of your window.
Reverse your ceiling fan and run at a slow speed. Running the fan clockwise in winter creates an updraft, pushing warm air back down. Close off unused rooms; keep the door shut—you don’t need to waste money heating an unused room. Keep your heating system maintained with annual service and consistent filter changes. Leverage your window coverings; choose the right window coverings to keep heat in your home. The good news is you don’t have to sacrifice style for practicality. The most energy-efficient window coverings happen to be the ones that check all the boxes most homeowners request: top-down bottom-up, motorized, and lots of colors and textures to choose from. What is this wonder shade? Cellular shades—sometimes also referred to as honeycomb because of the unique design that traps cold air in pockets before it enters the room.
The most common measure of energy efficiency is known as R-value. R-value is the capacity of an insulating material to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating gain; this also applies to rooms that are too warm. R-value can also help keep things cool. Most cellular shades have an R-value ranging from 4 to 5. Layering also makes a huge difference—when drapery is added over a cellular shade, you will see a significant reduction in cold air.

The first year I lived in my current home, it still had the original windows installed in 1949. My homesteader’s cabin was cold! By adding insulating cellular shades, I was able to warm the room by 10 degrees—a significant savings on my heating bill. Although those windows have now been replaced, I still rely on my cellular shades when the temperature drops.
Teresa Roy is a lifelong Alaskan and the owner of Cover Ups Window Fashions, a Palmer business since 1993, with a focus on blinds and drapery. She is also a distributor of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. Teresa can be contacted at info@coverupsak.com.
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