Insulated Window Shades R Value

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Insulated window shades r value.

Cellular window shades are designed with r value in mind. All window treatments are not created equally considering r values and energy savings. The higher the r value of any given insulator the greater its heat resistance. To put this in perspective the insulation that is used to build a home today has an r value in the low 40s appearing on the page about cellular shade r values.

For the light blocking shades without side. To put this in a bit of perspective a modern home s insulation has an r value in the low 40s. Thermal imaging r value the photos that were taken above were of a window in vermont. Drapes shutters and exterior shades also make for great insulated window treatments.

Cellular honeycomb shades are your best bet for efficient window treatments with triple cell shades being the ultimate in inuslated shades. Blinds with lower r values don t insulate as well. The honeycomb shaped fabric uses air pockets to slow the movement of thermal energy. R value for the light filtering shades without side seals was rsi 0 10 rus 0 57 while the addition of the side seals more than doubled the r value to rsi 0 21 rus 1 2.

To maximize your energy efficiency one window treatment may not be enough. To give you an idea of what a high or low r value for blinds is a higher value would be around 5 or so. By increasing the r value of a window covering one can decrease on energy bills. And a typical window has an r value ranging from 0 9 to 3 0.

If that is the case you can layer window treatments on top of each other to increase insulation even more. The most popular way of doing this is adding drapes to inside mounted cellular shades or shutters. Air happens to be a fantastic insulator a 3 4 pocket of air has an r value of 87. Insulated cellular shades are typically considered to have the highest r values of all window coverings.

On the lower end you ll see blinds and shades with r values around 3 33. The air pockets in the honeycomb cross sections act as insulators increasing the r value and reducing the conduction of heat through the window. A typical window has an r value anywhere from 9 to 3 0. These r values are a sum meaning this should be the total r value once you add up the entire depth of insulation.

For example if you have a type of insulation that has an r value of r 5 per inch of thickness you will need a depth of 6 inches of this insulation installed in your attic to reach r 30 if you live in zones 2 or 3.