As homeowners across the country prepare to make improvements to their homes, many are thinking in two particular shades of green – environmentally friendly and fiscally sound.

The Department of Energy reports that heating and cooling accounts for nearly 56% of the energy use in a typical U.S. home, making it the largest energy expense in most households. One of the simplest ways to reduce your heating and cooling needs and costs is by using your window treatments. In some cases, heat gain can be reduced by 45% (US Department of Energy, Consumer’ Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy)

Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing window treatments:

• All window treatments can help reduce heat gain when they are used.
• Shutters and cellular shades are great insulators 
• Solar fabrics and window film are great choices to cut your A/C requirement.
• Window film has been reported to reduce air conditioning costs by as much as 30-40%.
• All window coverings have insulating properties. Some are better at the job than others.
• Thermal lining used in drapery panels and Roman shades increases heat retention and reduces heat loss, thereby cutting heating requirements.

• Budget Blinds proudly carries roller shades made from Sheerweave #2000 and #2390, which received GREENGUARD certification.  Not only do these products reduce UV exposure, they are also low emitting products.  GREENGUARD Environmental Institute established performance based standards to identify products with low chemical and particle emissions for use in indoor furnishings among other uses.

Your Budget Blinds Style Consultant can help you find the window coverings that perform beautifully and look great doing it.  Schedule your free in-home consultation today!

Did you know that Budget Blinds also carries a wide variety of products made from recycled or renewable resources?  Ask your Budget Blinds Style Consultant about window treatments made from woven woods, cotton, silk or composite wood and beautiful area rugs made from wool, sisal, mountain grass and seagrass.

Real estate professionals encourage homeowners to depersonalize the house, so potential buyers can envision themselves in the space. While you’re clearing clutter, cleaning and freshening paint consider your window treatments.

Changing Window Treatments Give Your House an Edge on the Market

 “Freshening the window treatments can go a long way in making your house stand out from the rest of the houses in the inventory,” said Tracy Christman, Director of Budget Blinds’ Vendor Alliance. More and more real estate professionals hire professional staging companies to spruce up a home to increase its appeal to potential buyers.

Some real estate professionals will include the cost of staging the home in their services; however, others may look to the buyer to make upgrades. Ask your real estate professional during your initial meeting about staging arrangements. “A really nice faux wood blind shows really well and works with virtually everyone’s décor,” she continued.

Here are some other tips to help your home standout on the market:

• If your draperies are dingy or your blinds are banged up, replace them with faux wood blinds. They don’t have to be expensive to impress potential buyers.
• While the orange and pink flowered roller shade was perfect for your daughter’s room, it may not be the look a prospective buyer’s teenage son has in mind. Depersonalizing rooms puts the home’s best foot forward. Choose white, off-white or a neutral wood tone.
• If you’re window treatments are stuck in the 90s, it’s time to invest in new ones. Plus, if you have the perfect family starter home, window treatments purchased after 2001 have additional safety features like breakaway tassels and cord stops that enhance safety for children and pets.
• If you have a great view, call attention to it by bundling window treatments. Bundling is the practice of combining two classic window treatments on one window. For example, layer a sheer drapery panel over a roller shade or window shading to soften the angles and add drama. Draperies can be used to lengthen short windows or camouflage harsh angles.
• Improve photo shoots by using window treatments to control natural light in the room.
• Add blackout treatment to media room for wow factor.

It doesn’t take a lot to make your home standout. One or two simple upgrades can give your home the edge over the competition in the market.