• About 30% of a home's heating energy is lost through windows.
• In cooling seasons, about 76% of sunlight that falls on standard double-pane windows enters to become heat.

Good:

• Exposure to natural light during the day results in experiencing better sleep at night.
• Natural light improves mood as you feel so pleasant when exposed to the natural light.
• Proper lighting is considered one of the most important factors in ergonomics, so use natural light as much as you can.

Blinds:
Window blinds—vertical or horizontal slat-type—are more effective at reducing summer heat gain than winter heat loss.

Because of the numerous openings between the slats of blinds, it's difficult to control heat loss through interior window blinds, but the slats offer flexibility in the summer. Unlike shades, you can adjust the slats to control glare, light, and solar heat gain.

Dark shutters will show dust immediately. Go for white.

Drapes and Curtains vs blinds:
Now, blackout zebra blinds do regulate the heat by keeping the light out. Blinds make sure the sun can’t directly heat up a room through the door. But curtains have the edge here, they can insulate a house far better, keeping the heat out while also keeping the heat in during the winter.

Studies show that medium-colored draperies with white plastic backings can reduce heat gain by 33 percent, according to the DOE.

Blinds have the advantage in

• Light Control
• Privacy Control
• Maintenance
• Expense

Cellular Shades:
Insulated cellular shades are made of pleated materials that are designed to fold up, accordion-like, usually at the top of the window.

Insulated cellular shades are typically considered to have the highest R-values of all window coverings. The air pockets in the honeycomb cross-sections act as insulators, increasing the R-value and reducing the conduction of heat through the window.

In heating seasons, tightly installed cellular shades can reduce heat loss through windows by 40% or more, which equates to about 20% heating energy savings. In cooling seasons, cellular shades can reduce unwanted solar heat through windows by up to 80%, reducing the total solar gain to 15% or less when installed with a tight fit.

Window Quilts: Window quilts have a sheet of quilted material that can be opened by rolling and closed by unrolling.

Because of their snug fit, window quilts offer R-value increases similar to cellular shades, and they typically cost less

Reflective films. Window films are best for homes in regions with long cooling seasons. Silver, mirror-like films typically are more effective than colored

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