Go Green And Save With Honeycomb Shades
We are all becoming increasingly conscious of the need to save both on energy and money. One of the best ways to do this is by purchasing honeycomb shades for your home. Introduced in the early 80's by Hunter Douglas, the honeycomb designed mini blind provides home owners a window treatment option that is not only attractive but environmentally friendly.
Honeycomb shades are constructed of fabric and designed like honeycomb that creates air pockets to insulate windows while covering them. They raise and lower like other mini blinds but rather than individual slats they are one continuous piece that folds accordion style when it is raised. They do not have the option of opening and closing slats but can be raised and lowered. More expensive honeycomb shades like those offered by Hunter Douglas can be purchased with an option that allows you to lower them from the top down as well as from the bottom up.
The honeycomb design is so effective in providing insulation to exterior windows that it can reduce energy loss by as much as 50%. This adds up and you may even notice a substantial decrease in your power bill each month. They work especially well if you do not have double pane windows in your home and the insulation that these provide.
Installing honeycomb shades in all the windows in your home will not only keep your home warmer and draft free in the winter, they will keep the heat of the sun from driving up your air conditioning bill in the summer. They are extremely beneficial in very cold and very warm locations. Honeycomb shades offer the perfect foundation for any window treatment. They can be used by themselves or with valences or drapes. They are available in a wide range of colors, sizes and shapes and can be purchased with extra darkening qualities. For difficult to fit windows you can purchase them custom sized and the higher end manufacturers sell them to fit palladium windows, skylights, sidelights and almost any other shape you may need. If you want to save money on honeycomb shades be sure and search online for discount options. It is still a good idea to purchase a quality shade as they last longer and work better. Don't confuse the pleated shade with the honeycomb shade. They look similar but the pleated shade is only one layer and does not provide the honeycomb insulation. When choosing the size of shade for your windows make sure you measure each window carefully. Decide whether you want to mount the shades on the inside of the window frame or on top of the window frame. An inside mount will give you a flush, custom fit look. You need a different type of hardware for each type of mount so be aware of that when you order or purchase hardware. Honeycomb shades are a perfect way to cut your energy costs. Even if you pay a little more for them than you would for a regular mini blind, you will make up the difference in cost over time on lower energy consumption. You will also be doing your part to save our environment and eliminate our dependency on non-renewable resources.
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