As energy costs are soaring in the UK, homeowners face a dilemma, whether to stay cold in winter or face high energy bills. Energy poverty is a real risk for many households, and sacrificing comfort to maintain financial health is likely a reality for many Britons this winter. But even if the household budget has some room to handle the rising living costs, how many homeowners are willing to pay more for the same service?

Additionally, energy waste in the household can have a huge environmental impact. According to environmental studies, UK homes account for around 15% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions through oil- and gas-powered heating solutions. Alarmingly, the typical British house loses 3°C in hours when the outside temperature hits 0°C, driving the constant heating effort to compensate for the loss. Naturally, Britons seek better insulation options, such as blinds. Do Venetian blinds keep heat in? We consider below the pros and cons of blinds against heat waste.

Can Blinds Keep Heat in?

Do blinds keep heat in? The answer is yes, as long as they meet specific conditions. Indeed, the type of material used to make the blinds plays a significant role in its insulation properties.

Materials with a high R value, the resistance to the heat flow through a given material thickness, provide better insulation. Sturdier materials such as wood tend to have higher R values. In other words, if you opt for blinds as an insulation improvement solution, wooden blinds will be more effective than thinner and lighter materials that let the air through.

Advantages of Wooden Blinds Insulation

Wooden Blinds Insulation

Wooden blinds are an elegant addition to your interior style, as they often add a sophisticated touch to the decor. Design is a source of concern when you opt for visible insulation options, such as blinds or curtains, aka elements that are not hidden inside the house structure. Venetian blinds can inject a stylish edge to the room.

Wooden blinds can also provide an effective answer to summer heat, aka heat coming in rather than getting out. Poor insulation can make it difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature indoors in summer, which can lead to an extreme reliance on electric fans or A/C units. High energy costs remain a risk also during the warmer months of the year. Wood is a material that is especially helpful in keeping sunlight at bay and limiting heat penetration in summer, making wooden blinds a hard-working insulating solution all year round.

Wooden blinds are often made from sustainably-sourced material, keeping the environmental impact and residential footprint low. This wouldn’t be the case with synthetic materials, for example.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that wooden blinds are long-lasting and more resistant to shocks, unlike lighter materials. They are a long-term investment in the decor and the property’s energy consumption.

Disadvantages of Wooden Blind Insulation

While Venetian blinds can keep the heat in, they are at their most effective in summer when they keep the heat out. Relying entirely on wooden blinds in a cold region for insulation purposes may not be sufficient to maintain a comfortable temperature at home in winter.

Additionally, the design can lead some of the heat to escape through the gaps between each slat and along the sides of the blinds. Wooden blinds will reduce heat loss, but they are not designed to prevent it completely. Ultimately, we wouldn’t recommend using blinds as a sole insulation system for your home.

Wood Blind Alternatives for Insulation

If you suspect that your windows are the main source of heat loss in winter, it can be a good idea to consider alternative insulating blinds for windows of all sizes.

Wood shutters, such as plantation shutters, can be a great addition to the property. They can be fixed directly to the window frame, essentially blocking the path for the heat to exit. Bear in mind, however, that wood shutters are more expensive than wooden blinds and are not designed to let the light through.

You can also consider the addition of thermal curtains inside the areas with significant drafts. Thermal curtains can deliver effective insulation properties both in winter and summer. Like shutters, they do not let the light through.

Alternatively, it is also worth considering other areas in your home that may let the heat escape. Poor insulation under the roof can lead to up to 30% of your heat loss in winter.

We Sell Wood Blinds that Keep your Heat in!

As a long-term, energy-efficient investment, wooden blinds can elevate your interior while lowering your energy cost. However, they may not be the priority option to regulate the indoor temperature in a poorly insulated property.

At Wood Blinds, we aim to be the leading online expert for Venetian blinds in the UK. Why do our Venetian blinds keep heat in? It’s simple: They are made to measure with high quality and durable material, so you can rest assured they will reduce heat loss as much as possible. But don’t take our word for granted; check our online range of products instead.