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By: Liam Nimbleton
Updated: 6/29/2026
Are you tired of blasting your AC throughout the summer? Finding it hard to keep your home warm throughout the cold winter months? Investing in energy-efficient window treatments is the most effective way to keep your monthly energy bills low and maintain a comfortable temperature in your home throughout the different seasons. The wrong window treatments can cause your home to lose heating and cooling energy throughout the winter and summer, making it harder to regulate indoor temperatures and maintain a comfortable environment.
In this article, we'll review the benefits of energy-efficient window treatments and explore some of our favorite styles for temperature regulation. Here's everything you need to know.
The short answer is yes - energy-efficient window treatments are a must-have for homes, apartments, and condos. While energy-efficient blinds, curtains, and shades may not seem essential, they are a necessity for maintaining a comfortable and welcoming environment. If you decide to skip the shades or opt for a less energy-efficient option, you may see higher monthly energy bills, as you'll need to use more energy to maintain a cool and comfortable space. Direct exposure to sunlight can also cause UV damage to your furniture and cause an unwanted glare on your TV and other electronics.
When exploring the different window coverings, it's best to consider your personal needs and unique style, to ensure you find an option that complements your space. If energy efficiency is your main priority, here's a look at six of the most popular energy-efficient window treatments:
Cellular shades are designed with a hexagonal cell that creates a pocket of air along the window shade, creating a window treatment composed of pockets. These long pockets trap air and minimize airflow, creating effective insulation over your window.
You can open and close cellular shades to control the level of sunlight entering your space, but you also have a top-down or bottom-up option. This feature allows you to prioritize privacy as well as manage the amount of light. You can leave the top half of the window treatment open, allowing plenty of natural light and treetop views, while simultaneously offering privacy at eye level and below.
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Did you know most room-darkening curtains can block up to 99% of the outside light? These insulated window coverings are made with a densely woven material, designed to help regulate indoor temperatures throughout the summer and winter months. This can help lower your monthly energy bills while maintaining a comfortable temperature throughout the year.
Solar shades are a stylish, modern window treatment that can help reduce energy costs and keep your space at a comfortable temperature. This window covering can also help reduce glare and protect furniture from UV damage, making it a popular choice for home offices, living rooms, and dining rooms.
One advantage of these insulated window coverings is that you can determine the openness factor. Solar shades with a 1% openess factor will only allow 1% of light into your space, while an openness factor of 28% will allow more natural light and provide better outdoor visibility.
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Another popular way to keep your energy bills low is to layer different window treatments together. Pairing drapery with wooden blinds will help maximize energy efficiency, reducing any unwanted glare, blocking drafts, and regulating indoor temperatures.
Wood blinds and shades can help with energy efficiency during the hot summer months. The blinds are made of a thick, durable material that helps to bounce sunlight away from your home and keep your space cooler. However, it doesn't have the same effect in winter. If you prefer the look and feel of wood blinds, it's best to layer them with drapery or room-darkening curtains to maximize energy efficiency.
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Roman shades are designed with a single piece of fabric with overlapping folds. The fabric consutrction helps to keep your space warm during the winter, and cooler during the summer. You can also choose from different fabrics to maximize the energy efficiency.
It would depend on the type of window treatment. Room-darkening curtains are designed with a thicker material, made to completely block out any outdoor light and preserve the indoor temperature. These are a great option for bedrooms or living rooms, and will help retain heat during cold winters, but may block too much natural sunlight during the summer.
If you're looking for a better summer-friendly alternative, blinds might be a better option. Blinds are typically made of wood or faux wood, which can help reflect the summer sun and reduce heat gain during the summer.
Whether you prefer blinds, shades, or curtains, Stoneside is here to help. We have a full in-house team of designers, ready to help you explore the different window treatments and find the best energy-efficient solution for your space. We'll walk you through the process, step-by-step, and answer any questions you may have about energy efficiency, temperature regulation, and more.
Find out more about what to expect from your consultation and how our installation process works.
