subject: Window Treatments: Green in So Many Ways [print this page] Window treatments, such as blinds and drapes, can make a big difference. There are the obvious benefits-privacy, style and the ability to sleep as long as you like regardless of how sunny it is outside. But window treatments make a lot of ecological sense, too. They can help to reduce your carbon footprint as well as your need to use energy. If you can find organic or sustainably made window treatments, that's even better!
In the summer, the intense solar rays heat up your home. When it gets hot, you probably turn on an air conditioning system to avoid the heat. Cooling systems are not very energy-efficient and are very costly. By installing window treatments, you can help reduce the unwanted heating of your home. Window treatments shut out much of that sunlight, so that you don't have to cool the indoor air temperature as much.
In the winter, windows are a huge source of heat loss. Most windows allow a lot of heat to escape, so that you need to continue to heat your home far longer than you would need to otherwise at higher temperatures. Window treatments keep the warm air inside and help to prevent the loss of that heat. This will reduce your need to heat your indoor air, which reduces your energy use and your carbon footprint.
There are many curtains made of sustainable or organic materials. Bamboo blinds are a great option. They are beautiful, functional and sustainable. Because bamboo grows so quickly, it is a highly renewable material. Emerging companies are now making recycled plastic blinds that are made from milk jugs and other recyclable plastics. These are also a great option for blinds and they're often more affordable than bamboo blinds.
If you prefer to use drapes or curtains, there are many sustainable and/or organic options out there. EnviroCitizen.org has found that many of these options are also dyed with soy-based or naturally-based dyes, making them even more eco-friendly! Another way to get your hands on organic draperies or curtains is to make them yourself. Many retailers offer organic fabrics, allowing you to choose the pattern and design of your curtains to perfectly match your indoor decor. Making drapes or curtains is relatively simple and is eco-friendly because it takes a lot less energy to make your own than to purchase manufactured ones. Even if you purchase organic curtains, those curtains were still mechanically sewn and transported to your local store. Both of those actions increase the carbon footprint of those curtains as well as your footprint if you buy them. By making your own drapes or curtains, you are eliminating what would be a big carbon footprint.
Clearly, window treatments are an essential component to your eco-friendly home. They reduce heat loss in the winter and help to insulate your home, keeping it cool in the summer. They also enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home. All in all, EnviroCitizen.org believes that window treatments are a creatively effective way to lead a more eco-friendly lifestyle! Check out our selection of eco-friendly window treatments here.
Window Treatments: Green in So Many Ways
By: EnviroCitizen
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