Insulated Roman Shades Shrink Energy BillsDecorating with insulated roman shades is one sure fire way to hold off the energy demons that devour your finances during the winter season. They also do a terrific job of saving you money during those hot summer days when it seems like you're trying to air condition the whole neighborhood.
What is a insulated roman shade?
Good question! Remember back when a quality window treatment was interlined? Well that's what a insulated roman shades
What you do is to take the face fabric, add a middle layer of good cotton interlining and then you finish the back of the shade with a cotton lining. This gives you three layers of fabric. The face decorator fabric, cotton interlining and then the cotton decorator lining. Don't confuse the two layers of lining. The last or third layer is your every day drapery lining, roc-lon or other good quality lining. I mention cotton because it is a better insulator than polyester. The middle layer of lining is what makes the difference. It is a cotton felt-like lining that is heavy, soft, dense and a terrific insulator. It is the little secret that will save you a ton of money. How does it work? When you interline a roman shade you in effect create two dead air spaces. A dead air space is the best insulating factor you can get. There is one dead air space between the face fabric and the interlining and there is another between the interlining and the regular decorator lining. These dead air spaces kick your insulating r-factor up 2 to 3 notches and this in turn kicks your energy bill way, way down. If you have your roman custom made for you be sure and tell them you want your linings to hang free and not be bound together except at the lift tape or ring. This makes sure that those awesome dead air spaces are there and doing their job.
It will add about a third more to get a good interlined insulated roman blind. The interlining will add to the cost as well as more labor to fabricate the roman shades but the warmth you gain, the money you save on energy bills and the secure, warm feeling you get when it's way below zero in the winter time, more than offsets the added costs. Disadvantages? Like all roman shades, insulated roman blinds are an all or none type of window treatment. What I mean by this is that to get the full benefits of these romans you need to have them in the fully lowered position. So you won't be able to see out with them down. This might be a problem for some but I think that when it's way below zero, the snow is blowing like crazy outside and the windows are frosted over I would just as soon gaze at my good looking insulated roman shades and be warm and cozy!
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Does it cost a lot?
