Eye on the Environment: Window coverings can be “eco

As summer heat soars, some people might think the easy solution to climate change is to turn up the air conditioner. Others instead look for ways to be “eco-cool,” feeling cooler in their homes while also looking cool — stylish, clever and part of the movement for planetary solutions.

How does this sound for cool? Exclusive fabrics, elegant designs and sleek, gliding panels, elegantly styled to filter light with smooth, silent movement.

These descriptions are lifted from the Hunter Douglas website’s descriptions of the company’s window coverings. Window coverings provide one way to reduce household heat without air conditioning.

Closing window coverings during the hottest hours of the day, then opening them and the windows for cool night air, cuts indoor temperatures. Screens prevent insect intrusion, and on-rail, screw-down window frame-mounted locks offer security for windows left cracked open at night.

In the past, companies specialized in particular types of window coverings, but now, with decorating trends and product lines changing nearly as fast as clothing fashion, most companies in the window coverings business sell all types. Consequently, both Ken Hill, owner of 805 Shutters, based in the Santa Rosa Valley near Camarillo, and Lani Terry, Design Consultant with Drapery Affair, based in Ventura, extolled the insulating properties of a window covering that is neither a shutter nor a drapery. Both pointed out advances made in “honeycomb design” or “cellular” shades.

These shades are comprised of pockets which hold air. A liner of fabric, usually for black out purposes, adds additional insulation, but makes the window covering less practical for daytime use. Without the liner, these coverings can still block heat while allowing in enough daylight to add the cheer of sunshine. Some products of this type qualify for a federal tax credit, so ask your local dealer about incentives.

To block out bright lights in my neighborhood at night, and for the insulation of an additional layer, my cellular shades are supplemented by a separate blackout shade, on a parallel-installed roller. I leave it open at the bottom, with a window open on the second floor, when I want cool night breezes to flow into my home.

In addition to being installed for either vertical or horizontal openings, blinds can lower or raise top down, bottom up, or both, and blinds can also be electronically motorized. However, Hill cautions, “The more moving parts, the more likely it is to break.” Both Hill, who sells Norman brand shades, and Terry, who sells Hunter Douglas, emphasize the importance of a good warranty and claim the companies they represent best demonstrate the longevity of their products by providing dependable guarantees.

The most common type of mishap with shades involves cord tangles and misalignment, a problem easily remedied with some product lines’ reset feature. Some blinds can be fully extended, pulled firmly away from the window, and the cords will

often realign.

Shades are often cord-operated window coverings, so they depend on the smooth operation of a cord running through a mechanical device called a “motor,” even in products not using an electronic motor. This motor occasionally sticks, so lubrication is helpful to ensure proper function. Hill suggests a silicon-based spray, noting “other sprays, like WD-40, can attract dirt and grime.”

Consult your local dealer before attempting more complicated repairs; some actions can void warranties or exacerbate problems. Also consult dealers or product websites for cleaning guidance.

Draperies can be more insulating than shades, but thick liners block, rather than filter light. Draperies also hold dust, and “…pleat construction shouldn’t be washed at home. Professional cleaning is advised due to delicate construction. Pleats can distort,” said Terry. She advises using an experienced local cleaner who specializes in drapery.

Traditional wooden plantation shutters are another type of window covering potentially distorted by moisture. In fact, “Just the moisture in the air, if you live near the beach, can be enough to cause expansion and contraction of plantation shutters,” noted Terry. Resulting distortion can cause the wooden shutters to stop closing tightly or fitting well into window frames. “Everywhere you see light coming through closed shutters, that’s also where air is coming through,” said Terry, noting why wooden shutters, especially older ones, lack great insulating properties.

Vinyl shutters, or wood-like composites of plastic and wood, may not be great solutions from an environmental materials perspective, but they also have environmental benefits. By resisting distortion, flaking, and cracking over many years, they are long-lasting and can save energy through insulation by continuing to close tightly. Shutters often also offer motorization, useful for hard-to-reach windows.

Ventura County Public Works Agency Environmental Resource Analyst David Goldstein may be reached at 805-658-4312 or [email protected].

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