Energy-Efficient Window Coverings for Toronto Winters (and Summers)

If one room in your house always feels colder in January, or the living room bakes on a July afternoon, your windows are a likely reason. Even good double-glazed windows let far more heat through than the wall around them. The right window coverings can make those rooms noticeably more comfortable. Here is what actually helps, and what doesn't.

How Windows Gain and Lose Heat

• Through the glass — in winter, warm room air touches cold glass, cools down and sinks, which is the "draft" you feel near a window even when it is closed tightly.
• Through gaps — worn weatherstripping and gaps around the frame let outside air in.
• From the sun — in summer, sunlight through south- and west-facing glass heats the room directly.

A window covering works by putting a layer of still air and fabric between the glass and the room. It can't fix a broken seal or a leaky frame, so if you feel air actually moving with the window closed, have the weatherstripping checked as well.

Cellular (Honeycomb) Shades: The Most Effective Option

Cellular shades are built from fabric pleats that form small air pockets. That trapped air acts like insulation, which is why cellular shades are generally considered the most energy-efficient type of blind. A few things make them work better:

• Double-cell construction traps more air than single-cell.
• A close fit matters: the smaller the gaps at the sides, the less cold air spills into the room.
• Lower them at night in winter and during the hottest part of the day in summer.

Our honeycomb shades come in light-filtering and blackout fabrics, with cordless and motorized options.

Lined Drapery: Comfort You Can Feel

Floor-length drapery with a thermal or blackout lining is the other big improvement, especially on large windows and patio doors. For the best effect, the drapery should be wide enough to overlap the window frame on both sides and long enough to reach the floor, so cold air near the glass stays behind the fabric. A top treatment or ceiling-mounted track helps stop air from circulating over the top. See custom drapery.

Layering for the Coldest Rooms

For a bedroom over the garage or a north-facing family room, combine a cellular shade or roller blind on the glass with lined drapery in front of it. You get two layers of insulation at night and still have full control of light during the day.

Summer: Keeping the Heat Out

• Choose fabrics with a white or light-coloured backing on sun-facing windows; they reflect more of the sun's heat back through the glass.
• Solar and sheer shades cut glare and some heat while keeping your view. See sheer shades.
• Motorized blinds can close automatically on a schedule, so the room is already shaded before you get home. See motorized blinds.

One Thing to Watch: Winter Condensation

A tight-fitting shade keeps warm, humid room air away from the glass, so the glass itself gets colder and can collect more condensation on very cold nights. Raising the shades during the day lets the glass dry out. If condensation is heavy, check your home's humidity level as well.