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The Best Window Treatments For Summer Heat in Honolulu

July 31, 2019

When it’s warm outside, keeping cool is critical. A way you can lower your energy bills and stay cool is to use energy efficient window treatments for summer in Honolulu. 

As not all window treatments are made the same, we’ll show you precisely how window treatments will stop heat from seeping in. Also, we’ll let you in on how to find the most energy-efficient window treatments so you can keep hot air where it should be - outside.

How Energy Efficient Window Treatments Block Heat 

Interior shutters in breezy room.

Polywood® shutters can thwart the Honolulu summer heat and keep your home comfortable. 
  1. Seals off airflow - Treatments that completely covers your window opening seal off air and could reduce the warm airflow through your windows. Our Polywood plantation shutters stop as much as 30 degrees of heat coming from your window when they’re shut completely. 

  2. Reduces heat transfer - As the sun comes through your window it warms up the glass and that heat can be transferred to inside rooms. Energy efficient window treatments reduce this heat transfer. Polywood shutters reduce heat transfer by almost 46% and are up to 70% more energy efficient than hardwood shutters and are 1600% more energy efficient than aluminum blinds.

  3. Has a large R-value - R-value measures the energy efficiency of a material. It’s used for windows, insulation, and window treatments. To be designated as energy efficient window coverings, they should have a high R-value. When Polywood shutters are completely closed and used with a double-pane window, their R-value equals 6, a high value for window treatments.

What you should look for in energy-efficient window treatments

Polywood Shutters in Honolulu kitchen

Now that you know some of the ways that window treatments stop heat transfer, what specific features should you look for?
 

Window treatments that are designed to completely cover the window or trap air

The most efficient way to halt airflow is by trapping the air between the window and the treatment. You can achieve this with window treatments like Polywood shutters which completely encases the window when shut. What sets us apart from other plantation shutters is that Polywood shutters even uses weather stripping which further stops air transfer. The video below shows how to correctly close Polywood shutters to get the most energy efficiency. (Hint: If your Polywood shutters are open, they are letting heat through and are diminishing their energy efficiency).


An additional window treatment option is cellular shades.  They trap air in honeycomb-shaped material. However, when you have the possibility of a gap between the window and the shades, you can find airflow creeping from under the shades.

Window treatments that are a light color and have UV-reflecting material

[White|Plantation]313] Shutters in Bedroom 

Light colors reflect heat and are a good choice for energy efficient window treatments. Our Polywood shutters come in three variations of white and use a UV-reflecting coating to help your energy bills.

If you’re buying curtains or drapes, look for a light-colored material that reflects the light.

Need Help Finding the Right Window Treatments for Summer and All Year Round?

If you're seeking the best window treatments for summer, Sunburst Shutters Honolulu is here to help. Don’t hesitate to call at 808-797-2004 or fill out the form below to request a no-cost in-home consultation. When we come to your house, we’ll walk you through all of your energy efficient window treatment options and help you discover the best window treatment that fits your windows.