This blog is sponsored by Blinds Blinds, Inc, Newport Square, Englewood, FL 941 460-0200.  Expert fit, and measure, help you add beauty, value, and comfort to your home with VERTICAL & HORIZONTAL BLINDS!  We also have PLANTATION - or TROPICAL STYLE SHUTTERS, in white and natural colors.  WOVEN WOODS & BAMBOO, PANEL TRACKS, ROLL DOWN SHADES, ROLLER SHADES,...whatever your mood and budget, we have what you want.  We even have two lines of solar panels that let you save up to 20-40% of your energy bills.  Ask about the Sheerweave or Visions lines!

Call right now to schedule your personal, in-home consultation at 941 460-0200, and then come back and get some inspiration from today's article!  Please email and tell us your ideas, or your interesting stories of different ways you have created lovely window treatments for your home!

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Cellular Shades and Your Home: Honeycomb Shades Combine Style and Energy Efficiency

By Maria Allen

When it's time to update your home with new window treatments, you may want to consider more than just aesthetics. Of course, you'll want your new window shades or blinds to be attractive and stylish, but you may also want to keep energy efficiency in mind.

In the average American household, over 40% of your utility bill goes toward heating and cooling your home. That wouldn't be too bad if all of that energy--and money--actually contributed to creating a comfortably warmed or cooled environment. But did you know that heat lost through your windows could add up to 10-25% of your energy bill? Keep that money from going right out your windows--literally!--with cellular window shades. This versatile window treatment solution provides homeowners with all of the benefits of standard window coverings like Roman shades but with the additional benefit of improved energy efficiency. So when you choose to install cellular shades in your home, you get easy operation, sleek looks, and lower energy bills.

Unlike Roman shades or window blinds that are typically made of one or two flat layers of material, cellular shades are formed in a unique honeycomb style. Two or more layers of a non-woven material are pleated together, sandwiching pockets of air between the layers. This distinctive design offers a soft, elegant appearance, but it's also what helps insulate your windows. By trapping air inside the cells, these window shades create a thermal break between your window glass and the temperature inside your home. This helps ensure the hot air stays in during the winter and out during the summer. High-quality cellular shades typically offer R-values (measures of insulating property) of between R-4 and R-6 for double honeycomb styles. Compare that with a typical R-value of 2.5 for horizontal blinds and 3.0 for basic Roman shades. These numbers spell out just how much more efficient a cellular window shade is than many of your other options!

Cellular shades are a particularly good investment for warmer, sunnier climates. That's because in addition to heat transfer from the hot temperatures outside, the sun can actually warm up a space with solar radiation. Those bright sunbeams that make the beach so pleasant are also making it hotter in your home, forcing your air conditioner to work harder, and your energy bills through the roof. However, when you install cellular shades in your home, you can combat solar heat gain as well as thermal heat transfer. By drawing your cellular shades when the sun is streaming in, you can block out the sun and insulate your windows at the same time, ensuring your home stays comfortably cool for less.

So if you're in the market for window blinds or shades, make sure to consider the whole picture, including energy efficiency, before you make your selection. With cellular, or honeycomb, shades, you'll find that their great looks mean you won't even have to sacrifice to make your home more energy efficient. Contact your local window treatment specialist to learn more or to place your order for a cellular window shade today.

Maria Allen is a home improvement hobbyist and an Internet marketer for Prospect Genius, specializing in online advertising for local businesses.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6581545

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We hope you enjoyed today’s information.  Call today, at 941 460-0200 to schedule an FREE-NO OBLIGATION measure and estimate.  We offer a complete shop from home service!

Feel free to email us at blindsblinds@inbox.com with any questions.  Or just stop by the showroom at the corner of 776 and Spinnaker, in Englewood, FL - NEWPORT SQUARE -

940 460-0200