Facing a cost of living crisis and increasing concerns about climate change, homeowners across the country are wondering how they can make their homes more eco-friendly.
There are many solutions available, however, they often tend to be big projects — and the price and scale can feel daunting.
Fortunately, there are also some smaller changes you can make. Some of these, such as installing awnings or bespoke zip blinds, can have more of an impact than you might first think. Want to learn more? Read on for some of the understated benefits they deliver.
Winter warmth
A shocking amount of energy in our homes escapes through the windows, even when they’re fully sealed and closed. Between radiation through the glazing, conduction via the window frame and convection in the cavity, heat gradually makes its way out of the property— and with older, damaged windows, the process is sped up even further.
Made-to-measure zip blinds essentially act as an additional layer of insulation. Covering your windows with a fitted screen of heat-retaining material, it’s much harder for the warmth to escape.
This reduces the need to turn up the thermostat on cold winter days — preventing the use of excess energy and lowering your bills at the same time.
Draught prevention
Zip blinds are manufactured with side channels lining the full length of the blind, and a zip securing the material. This means they’re much easier to fix in place, and ultra resistant to draughts — a lot more so than standard roller blinds.
With unwanted cold air creeping into your home, draughts are another big threat to temperature control – one that can be brought under control with well-fitted, made-to-measure blinds. It’s another big win for year-round energy efficiency.
Improving airflow
Not all airflow is a bad thing — especially in the summer months.
With zip blinds, you can allow a controlled amount of air into your space, while keeping any insects and the elements out. Premium fabrics are especially designed to let in the right amount of ventilation and can be easily adjusted as you prefer.
Furniture and flooring care
Some areas of your home will be much more exposed to sunlight than others. In winter that’s great, as you make the most of the natural warmth on days when the sun’s shining. In summer, however, the sun can eventually take its toll.
Excess sunlight can alter the colour of wooden flooring, leather furniture, artwork and upholstery, doing irreversible damage to some of your most prized and costly possessions.
Ordering a replacement and sending the damaged goods to landfill certainly isn’t an ideal outcome. It’s better to take better care of them in the first place — and a tactically installed awning can do a lot of the legwork for you. Use it to block out excess sunlight, then retract it as desired.
Awnings can also be a saviour in the summer heat, reducing the need for fans or air conditioning.
Awnings and zip blinds from Cambridge Blinds
Find the ultimate shading solution for your home with Cambridge Blinds. We offer a huge variety of bespoke, made-to-measure blinds — from zip screens to silhouette blinds, in a range of colours and materials.
We fit award-winning garden and patio awnings too, with over 25 different types to choose from.
To see how you can make your home more eco-friendly, and do it in style, get in touch with a member of our team.