The Beehive State is home to breathtaking mountain ranges with mid-to-high-elevation valleys and basins in the north, desert valleys in the west, and low-elevation plateaus and slick rock canyons in the south. With such diverse terrain, each region experiences varied climate extremes like severe winters in the north and arid, hot summers in the south.
From the highest snowy peaks located in the Energy Star® Northern Climate Zone, to arid red deserts in the South-Central Climate Zone – all Utahans experience distinct four-season weather. While our state is, undoubtedly, one of the best places to enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle from one season to the next; maintaining a comfortable temperature inside can be a real challenge.
Luckily, there is an easy, affordable solution to help your home or office stay warm and cozy in the winter and block sizzling solar heat during the hottest days of the year. Professionally-installed, custom window coverings for Utah’s unique four-season weather provide an energy-efficient way to maintain your indoor climate, without breaking the bank!
Window Orientation in Utah
The right window coverings for Utah’s unique four-season weather can provide energy savings by selecting the best product combination. To begin with, it is important to understand how to take advantage of the sun’s radiant heat during cold winter months and properly utilize window coverings to provide protection from glaring solar heat during the summer and autumn months.
While finding the window covering style to compliment your home or office aesthetic is a significant part in the selection process, it is not the most important. For year-round comfort, the key is to accurately identify each window’s orientation and how it affects the temperature of the area. In addition, also consider the purpose of each room and the need for natural daytime lighting and privacy.
See how directional orientation influences solar heat gain and natural sunlight in Utah listed below:
- North-facing windows let in the least amount of direct sunlight and heat transfer throughout the year.
- South-facing windows receive the most direct solar heat and natural light throughout the day, year-round.
- East-facing windows have the greatest direct sunlight from sunrise until the sun moves overhead in the afternoon.
- West-facing windows receive direct solar exposure from the afternoon hours as the sun sets on the horizon.
Find out how easy it is to maximize energy savings for your home or office with the right window coverings. Only a local window coverings expert understands the ups and downs of Mother Nature’s climate extremes in Utah and can ensure you find the best window treatment options to reduce utility costs and improve indoor comfort year-round.
The Best Window Coverings for a Mixed Climate
Up to 20% of your home’s heating and cooling energy can be lost through your windows resulting in increased energy use and higher utility bills. Surprising money-saving results can come from taking advantage of solar heat gain in the cold winter months and utilizing window coverings for protection from the sun and harmful UV rays during the summertime leading into autumn.
Layering with a combination of the following window coverings is the most effective way to utilize natural sunlight and help reduce your costly heating and cooling bills:
Cellular Shades
Also known as honeycomb shades, cellular shades are designed to act as an insulating barrier to keep the interior of your home or office warm on cold days, and cool during the red-hot summer days. The innovative cellular shade uses a series of cell pockets, similar to a honeycomb pattern, to trap the air around your windows.
With optional top-down/bottom-up lifts, cellular shades are available in a wide-range of colors, fabric styles, and additional upgrade features. Installation can be on the inside or outside of the mount but will provide the most effective energy-efficiency from an outside mount install. But the most important options are cell layering and varying pleat sizes.
- Single-cell shades are the most affordable option but will not provide substantial energy efficiency.
- Double-cell shades provide more insulation with an extra layer of honeycomb fabric to prevent energy transfer through the window.
- Triple-cell shades will give you the best insulation-capable technology for optimal energy efficiency in Utah’s mixed-weather climate.
Cellular shade pleat sizes are not just about style or preference. The size of each cell actually contributes to the window covering’s overall energy-efficiency. Style-wise, small pleats look better in smaller windows and large pleats look best in larger windows. But, as a rule of thumb, the larger the pleat the better the yield for energy savings.
High-Quality Shutters
Windows take up anywhere from 15 – 20% of the surface area of the wall. This means that offsetting heat gain and heat loss from the windows with functional shutters will greatly improve your home’s efficiency. Solid wood, wood composite, and vinyl shutters work by effectively trapping air between them and the glass – inside and out.
Both interior and exterior shutters impart insulation directly at the source of energy transfer. Interior shutters are fitted and installed inside with louvers for light and privacy control. Functional exterior shutters are often used as an effective defense from extreme weather conditions like snowstorms, blizzards, and high winds. The combination of both will provide your home or commercial space with classic, elegant style, and desirable functionality. (h4) For the best advice about window coverings, trust the knowledge and experience of the local experts. Fashion Windows LLC serves both residents and business owners in Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, and Tooele Counties. With effective and proven solutions for Utah’s unique four-season climate – we will help you find the best shades, shutters, and blinds to create a window covering combination that will suit your individual style and provide superior energy-efficiency. Give us a call today at 435-882-8979 or click here for a free, no-obligation in-home consultation.
