Stay Cool, Save Money, and Help the Environment
Did you know that the sun can damage your furniture if you don’t have proper window protection? UV rays cause at least 40% of furniture to fade. While you can fix minor sun damage, it will be irreversible if left for too long. Therefore, we recommend solar shades as a form of protection. But what are solar shades?
Solar Shades are fabric blinds made with tightly woven material that stops sunlight from entering your space. What is unique about solar shades is that they prevent people from looking in while still allowing those inside to look out.
But this is just the first of many benefits that you can enjoy by installing solar shades. Read on if you’re looking for a trendy, cost-effective, and functional window blind solution.
1. View Enhancing
If you have windows with a great view, shutting it out with curtains or blinds isn’t ideal. With light and dark solar shades, you can see the landscape and even enhance it. A dark fabric in a 3% openness will work in perfect contrast with the outside lighting. However, the light fabric solar shade can cause an open panorama to seem blurry. Just as you would sharpen images with darker shades on a photo, darker solar shades will work in the same way.
2. Improved Privacy & Protection
Solar shades have an opacity called an “openness” factor of 1-15%. The lower percentage means that the fabric is a tighter weave. Depending on which you choose, it will affect both privacy and UV protection. For example, a solar shade with an openness of 1% will block out 95% of UV rays. In contrast, an openness factor of 15% will diffuse 85% of UV. In terms of privacy, there is a slight difference between them.
A high-level openness has a looser weave, so it offers less privacy at night. When you have lights on in your home, people will be able to see inside. As such, you should take into consideration the position of your windows. If they are overlooked, choose 1-5% openness solar shades. But, for non-overlooked windows, you can install the opaquest version and enjoy the full view.
3. Durability & Long Lifespan
Solar shades are made from a supple yet durable coated vinyl. With proper care and attention, your solar shades should last for at least ten years. The danger to them is general wear and tear. To keep them in the best form, wash them often with warm, soapy water and a gentle microfiber cloth. Solar shades include flame retardant and dust resistant properties, so they are safe additions to your home or office.
4. Good for the Environment
As a continuing trend, more offices and houses are installing floor-to-ceiling windows. Although this has improved mental health and wellbeing reports at work, there is also a downside.
Glass buildings trap heat like a greenhouse, and this can cause fatigue. With the increase of internal heat, you’ll need electric fans or air conditioning to keep the environment comfortable. By 2030, we will be using 5.6 million heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units. Unfortunately, these machines increase greenhouse gases and leak potent hydrofluorocarbons. So instead, consider installing window protection so you won’t need to focus on alternative options, and you will be helping the environment.
5. Temperature Control
Your solar shades will act as a buffer between your interior temperature and the outside. In the summer, they will block the sun and naturally lower the room temperature. Although solar shades won’t insulate the room in the winter, they will help your windows work more efficiently. On average, 18% of the warmth in your property is lost through the windows. Therefore, having an extra layer on them will help prevent heat loss.
6. Saves Energy
Solar shades lower the internal temperatures in the summer and help to keep rooms warm in the winter. As such, you will rely less on heating or air conditioning, which helps save energy and money. Investing in them now will compensate for energy hikes over the next ten years. Just as darker solar shades are better at enhancing your view, lighter shades are more efficient at lowering energy costs.
7. Reduces Glare
When light is too bright for our eyes, it can cause severe discomfort and damage. People often complain of having headaches if they are in an office or room that is too bright for them. In terms of businesses, reducing glare will make it easier for your employees to see their computer screens and work efficiently. At home, a glare from the window can make you unable to see the tv. Solar shades in darker colors will absorb the sunlight, block direct rays, and minimize glare on your screens.
8. Stylish Designs
Solar shades can be either manual or motorized. They look sleek and stylish in houses and professional in offices. The motorized versions allow users to lower and raise them through a remote control or an app. In some cases, you can schedule your shades to rise and fall at certain times of the day. Manual solar shades have the same string pulley system as traditional blinds.
The Benefits of Solar Shades
We’re seeing an increase in solar shades as an affordable and effective way to manage building temperature and lower energy costs. You will also protect the people inside your building from UV, preserve their window view, and increase productivity. To find a solar shade that best suits your needs, we recommend talking to an ERCO professional, ready to help. Call our team for a free solar shade installation estimate today.
