TL;DR
Get cleaning gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
An Ideal Home report says closing curtains just before sunset can help slow heat loss through windows and keep rooms feeling warmer. Its writer recorded a 2°C difference across thermal curtains, but the test was informal and does not establish a specific energy or bill saving.
Closing curtains shortly before sunset may help reduce heat loss through windows and keep a home feeling warmer, according to an Ideal Home report based on the writer’s experience over a week. The writer measured a 2°C difference on opposite sides of thermal curtains after sunset, but the report does not show that the habit produces a particular reduction in energy use or bills.
The report describes curtains as an additional insulating layer over glazing. By slowing heat loss, they may help rooms stay comfortable for longer and reduce the need to run central heating or portable heaters. The effect is not the same in every home: window type, curtain fit and fabric, and existing insulation all affect the result.
Stuart Middleton, So Energy’s consumer energy expert, said that thick, well-fitting or thermally lined curtains can be particularly effective. He also cautioned that it is difficult to put an exact figure on potential savings from this habit alone. The report provides no controlled test of heating consumption, energy bills or savings across different homes.
The writer compared temperatures near different window coverings after sunset. The reported difference was about 2°C for thermal curtains and blinds, just under 1°C for wooden blinds and about half a degree for standard curtains. These are the writer’s observations, not results from a controlled study; the supplied report does not explain the measuring equipment or testing conditions in detail.
Curtains May Reduce Evening Heat Loss
The practical appeal is that closing curtains is a no-cost change that may make rooms feel warmer without adjusting the heating. For households trying to manage energy use during colder months, that could be useful, particularly in rooms with heat-losing windows and well-fitted thermal curtains.
However, the report does not quantify how much energy or money a household might save. A warmer reading behind a curtain does not by itself prove that a boiler or heater ran less, or that a bill fell. Readers should treat the temperature comparison as an example of a possible insulating effect, not a guaranteed saving. Individual results will vary with the home and its heating habits.
thermal lined curtains for windows
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Why Sunset Timing Matters
The report recommends closing curtains just before it gets dark. The reasoning is to let daylight warm rooms during the day, then add the extra barrier as outdoor temperatures fall after sunset. The suggested time is therefore tied to local daylight, rather than a fixed hour; sunset moves earlier or later with the season and location.
For people who are away at that time, the report mentions scheduled curtain devices, including SwitchBot Curtain 3 and Aqara products. Ideal Home editor Becky said she used a schedule to change when her curtains opened and closed as the seasons changed. Those comments describe personal use, not independent testing of the devices or proof that automation leads to lower bills.
“Windows can be a source of heat loss, so drawing your curtains creates an additional layer of insulation that helps slow the rate at which heat escapes.”
— Stuart Middleton, So Energy’s consumer energy expert
draft proof thermal curtains with eyelet or pencil pleat heading
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Savings Depend on Each Home
The supplied report does not state how much energy or money the writer saved, whether heating use changed during the test, or how the temperature readings were taken. It also does not establish whether the reported differences would be reproduced in other homes. The 2°C reading is not a measured bill reduction, and the report gives no basis for calculating one.
It is also unclear how much benefit ordinary curtains provide compared with thermal coverings under consistent conditions. Middleton’s comments and the writer’s measurements point to variation, but they do not quantify the effect across different window styles, curtain sizes or insulation levels. The report’s reference to energy-price changes is not dated in the supplied material, so those figures cannot be treated as current forecasts.
SwitchBot Curtain 3 smart curtain opener
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Try the Habit and Track Use
The report’s practical suggestion is to close curtains shortly before local sunset and keep them closed through the evening. Households interested in whether it helps can compare room comfort and heating use over similar periods, while recognizing that outdoor temperatures and daily routines can affect the comparison. No savings figure is confirmed by the report.
Those considering automated curtains can use scheduled opening and closing, or a light-sensitive device, according to the products described. The supplied material gives no independent assessment of their performance or current availability. The next useful evidence would be a controlled comparison of heating use across homes and window treatments; no such study or follow-up result is included in the report.
indoor window insulation film for winter
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
Does closing curtains before sunset save energy?
It may help slow heat loss through windows and keep rooms warmer, potentially reducing reliance on heating. The report does not quantify energy or bill savings, which depend on the home and its window coverings.
When should I close my curtains?
The report suggests closing them just before local sunset, so daylight can enter during the day and curtains can act as an additional barrier in the evening.
Which curtains worked best in the report?
The writer reported the largest temperature difference with thermal curtains and blinds: about 2°C. The observation was made at home and was not a controlled comparison.
Does a 2°C difference mean a lower energy bill?
No. The reading describes a temperature difference across the window covering; it does not measure heating use or bill savings. The report says an exact saving is difficult to estimate.
Source: rss
Fall Picks
fall essentials
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
