heavy curtains for energy efficiency

[crabbypatty]

I bought curtains yesterday to place over my wooden blinds in an effort to reduce HVAC costs which have skyrocketed and are expected to get worse very soon.

I think I got a good price, but I'm not sure. How much per window would you say is reasonable including the rod and finials? I'm talking about insulated curtains, not lightweight ones.

[Saving in So Cal]

I have been considered buying these curtains, too. The best price/selection I've seen on the curtains has been through JCPenney.com. (You can buy the rods and finials anywhere.) The price varies depending on size, whether you are buying on clearance, whether you have a promotion code, etc.

[crabbypatty]

I have been considered buying these curtains, too. The best price/selection I've seen on the curtains has been through JCPenney.com. (You can buy the rods and finials anywhere.) The price varies depending on size, whether you are buying on clearance, whether you have a promotion code, etc.

We were at Penny's Saturday night looking at these (the Wendy).

I ended up buying from Linens n things b/c they have a B1 get 2nd 50% sale. It ended up about $90-100 a window including finials and rods. Penny's quoted me $93 a window just for the curtains, which weren't as nice and didn't match as well as the ones I found.

We have a lot of windows so the cost is adding up, so we're doing one room at a time. Besides the energy efficiency, it's amazing how the curtains can change the overall style of a room.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Did you get insulating curtains of some sort?

My sister has been slowly sewing very serious insulating shades that go under decorative curtains. They are cut to fit snugly inside the window well. They have layers of some sort of fluffy spun synthetic insulation, something metalic-plastic (I think mylar), and heavy muslin or canvas material. Sorry I don't know what all the materials are, but she researched this specifically for use as a window heat barrier. They look nice. They draw up easily kind of like venetian blinds.

I have the most ridiculous curtains in most of my house--Just a cloud of lace because I so like a bright house. Curtain prices vary tremendously. Mine are nearly 15 years old, and I think I spent $60-90 per window that long ago. That did not include rods. And at the time they were among the lower end of what JC Penny sold....But the practical side of me admits I need to do something about window insulation. We have huge windows in a tiny house. At least they are very good windows to start with.

If you want to get an idea of curtain prices, JC Penny has a selection online. They used to have insulating curtains; I imagine they still do, as they are one of the biggest sources of non-custom (but sized to your window) curtains in the US. Rods and all the hardware, too.

[Ima saver]

I don't have a curtain in my house. I have all Anderson window with the big arch type windows on top and they are so pretty, I don't want to hide them. (and fancy trim on them)

[cptacek]

Did you get insulating curtains of some sort?

My sister has been slowly sewing very serious insulating shades that go under decorative curtains. They are cut to fit snugly inside the window well. They have layers of some sort of fluffy spun synthetic insulation, something metalic-plastic (I think mylar), and heavy muslin or canvas material. Sorry I don't know what all the materials are, but she researched this specifically for use as a window heat barrier. They look nice. They draw up easily kind of like venetian blinds.

Could you get us some more information about what exactly she is doing / using / if she has a pattern, etc? This sounds very interesting, and very do-able.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Yes, I will be calling her on the weekend. I have also seen instrcutions as well as patterns to buy on the internet.

[cptacek]

thank you! that would be good information to have!

[trillium]

Found this:

http://www.humboldt.edu/~ccat/virtualtour/handouts/thermal_curtains.pdf

And this:

http://www.warmcompany.com/warmwindow/Warm.pdf