How Interior Shutters Can Lower Your Energy Bills

 

 

 

Energy costs are rising every year. And it's a trend that shows no sight of stopping. Analysts are predicting that if everything stays as it is now, our annual energy bill will increase by 30%.

So, heating your home during the winter has started giving you anxiety; you are not alone. In a survey to see how many people were aware of this rising trend, 62% of the individuals over 55 and 50% of individuals from 18-24 year age groups responded with a YES.

With that being said, you might be looking for different ways to save money on your energy bills. If that is the case, you are in the right place. 

Today, we will discuss one method that will not only help you save on energy bills but will also increase the value of your house.

Window shutters have always been used to cover the windows. But the same things can be used to save on energy bills. In addition, with the right use of window shutters, they can keep the house cool during summer and warm during winter.

Although this might be common wisdom, it is important to look into this method thoroughly to make the most out of it.

How Can Shutters Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency?
Quality window shutters effectively block and absorb heat from the sun's rays. If this can be used smartly, one can significantly reduce energy bills. 

If your plans involve making your home more energy efficient, installing shutters on all your windows can help you trap sun rays' heat for heating the room during winters.

A shutter in your home will help keep harmful sunlight away from you and keep the room warm during the winter. 

During the more temperate season like fall and spring, you can control the airflow. This can help you regulate the temperature of rooms.

Read more to see how interior shutters help with saving energy.

Create Barriers
Interior shutters installed in the window create some space between the window and the outside environment. This space traps air at a fixed temperature. 

The shutters are structured in such a way that they hinder hot air from escaping out into the environment. As a result, the longer the heat is trapped inside the home, the less energy will be needed to warm the room.

This reduces the need to turn on your room heaters. Hence, you can save energy consumption during the cold winter.

Furthermore, when summer comes, shutters can keep all the harmful sun rays out of the home and help regulate the home's temperature.

Light Regulators
Interior shutters are mostly known for their large louvers. These louvers allow for better heat and light control inside the house. 

Louvers come in different sizes, from 2 inches to 4 inches. You can choose any depending on your need. Just like sun shade work in cars, shutters block sunlight when they are closed.

The interior shutters can entirely block sunrays and prevent heat from entering the house. They also block solar radiation instead of absorbing it. This reduces the amount of heat retained by the house at the end of warm weather conditions.

Provide Insulation
Interior shutters are excellent for insulation. They form a wall that prevents internal heat from escaping to the external environment. According to experts, a shutter is capable of blocking almost 50% of heat, thereby saving money on energy bills.

Shutters are thicker than blinds, and this is what makes them a good option over blinds. In addition, they tend to retain the room's temperature and offer perfect insulation during both hot and cold seasons.

How Effective Are Shutters At Keeping The Heat In?
Experts have run much research to see how effective glass is with thermal performance. The result of the research clearly states that well-fitting shutters can reduce heat loss through windows by 58%.

However, this can only be achieved if the shutters are well fitted. If the shutters are fitted properly, it will leave enough space for outside air to enter. This will disturb the insulation process.

But what about the shutter in combination with other insulation? Experts have found that a combination of shutter and other insulation reduces heat loss by almost 75%.

So, whether it is on its own or combined with different insulation methods, we can say that a well-fitted shutter can prevent almost half of the total heat from escaping.

How Are Shutters Fitted?
The easiest way to install a shutter on your window is to simply pay an expert to complete the job for you. However, if you want to DIY and proudly announce this to your friends, follow the steps.

 - Assemble The Frame: This phase is important as assembling the shutters will depend on what type of window you have.
 - Install The Frame: Attach a few fixing points which can be used for installing the frame.
 - Attach The Panel: Drop the hinges in place and pin down the shutter with the window.
 - Check The Movement: Panels and louvers should be easily movable without any instruction.
 - Amend If Necessary: Finally, make the necessary changes once everything is in place. You can not always end up with the desired result. Hence, once you are done installing the shutter, see that it is performing well. If not, make the necessary changes.

Correctly Operate Interior Shutter
Just installing a shutter at your window will not help you get the most out of it. You need to be aware of the best practices as well. By following the steps mentioned below, you can ensure you are saving money on energy bills.

 - Fully open teh louvers every morning to maximize the light entering the house during the day.
 - Keep your louvers open throughout the day so that more sun rays can heat your home.
 - When daylight is over, close all the louvers to insulate the home completely.
 - Repeat this process daily to maximize your energy savings.

Just having the tools is not enough to save energy; you need the right practices to make the most out of it.

We hope that you were able to get the most out of this article. If there is anything you want to know more about, reach out to us.