As a cheaper stopgap until you’re able to move or motivate your landlord adequately to replace your windows, installing cellular window shades would add significant r-value (insulation ability/thermal resistance) to your windows. A good brand can nearly double the r-value of a single-pane (or failed double-pane) window. Keeping them closed in the summer on sun-facing windows will drastically reduce heat intrusion, and keeping them closed on non-sun facing windows in the winter will help retain the heat inside the home (you’d want to close them on the sun-facing windows after the sun goes down too).
Do you know if cellular shades would offer much benefit if I’ve already added window tinting that blocks something like 70% of the IR already? I’m not against doubling up on measures, I’m just not sure at what point it’s all diminishing returns.
I believe the effects would stack. A tint will reduce heat transfer somewhat (though can be damaging long term to a double-pane window, so be sure not to tell your landlord you’re using them if you have double-pane), but it won’t be as effective as a low-e window. The cell shade’s additional insulation should still provide a noticeable improvement, and help keep the cool air inside, making the AC more effective.
If you have an IR thermometer gun, you could buy just a single shade and test how much it reduces the temperature of a single window compared to a non-shaded one.
Alternatively, since I think you may have to permanently install a cellular shade, you may want to opt for a heavy insulated curtain if you don’t plan on staying in that apartment long-term.
We’ve got a blackout curtain on our largest ‘window’ (glass sliding door onto the porch), and all our windows are single pane, if you can believe that shit existing somewhere it reaches 110+ F in the summer. 🫠
I’m half of the mind to just install the cellular shades regardless of what the landlord says and eat any potential charges for damage when we move out, it can’t be more expensive than the AC blasting like it is all summer.
Oh lord, if it’s single pane with those temps, I can see why you’d be willing to try it 😬
I was able to find a video that does a decent job of showing roughly what you might be able to expect from the cellular shades. For his house, the shades were able to reduce the inside temp by 3 degrees fahrenheit, with a 15% reduction in energy used by his AC. His house had double-pane windows already, so he had a decent starting point to begin with, and you may experience slightly higher reductions since you’re starting with single pane.
If you end up going that route, I’d be interested to hear how much they helped in your apartment!
Also @[email protected] & @[email protected]
As a cheaper stopgap until you’re able to move or motivate your landlord adequately to replace your windows, installing cellular window shades would add significant r-value (insulation ability/thermal resistance) to your windows. A good brand can nearly double the r-value of a single-pane (or failed double-pane) window. Keeping them closed in the summer on sun-facing windows will drastically reduce heat intrusion, and keeping them closed on non-sun facing windows in the winter will help retain the heat inside the home (you’d want to close them on the sun-facing windows after the sun goes down too).
Do you know if cellular shades would offer much benefit if I’ve already added window tinting that blocks something like 70% of the IR already? I’m not against doubling up on measures, I’m just not sure at what point it’s all diminishing returns.
I believe the effects would stack. A tint will reduce heat transfer somewhat (though can be damaging long term to a double-pane window, so be sure not to tell your landlord you’re using them if you have double-pane), but it won’t be as effective as a low-e window. The cell shade’s additional insulation should still provide a noticeable improvement, and help keep the cool air inside, making the AC more effective.
If you have an IR thermometer gun, you could buy just a single shade and test how much it reduces the temperature of a single window compared to a non-shaded one.
Alternatively, since I think you may have to permanently install a cellular shade, you may want to opt for a heavy insulated curtain if you don’t plan on staying in that apartment long-term.
We’ve got a blackout curtain on our largest ‘window’ (glass sliding door onto the porch), and all our windows are single pane, if you can believe that shit existing somewhere it reaches 110+ F in the summer. 🫠
I’m half of the mind to just install the cellular shades regardless of what the landlord says and eat any potential charges for damage when we move out, it can’t be more expensive than the AC blasting like it is all summer.
Thanks for the info!
Oh lord, if it’s single pane with those temps, I can see why you’d be willing to try it 😬
I was able to find a video that does a decent job of showing roughly what you might be able to expect from the cellular shades. For his house, the shades were able to reduce the inside temp by 3 degrees fahrenheit, with a 15% reduction in energy used by his AC. His house had double-pane windows already, so he had a decent starting point to begin with, and you may experience slightly higher reductions since you’re starting with single pane.
If you end up going that route, I’d be interested to hear how much they helped in your apartment!
Interesting. Sounds better than shitty blinds.