Beat The Cold

Will a Roller Blind Save Me Money This Winter?

With even the hardiest of homeowners reaching for the thermostat to crank up the heating, it’s safe to say winter is on its way. As is the case every year, our minds begin to turn to the thought of heating our home, and saving money whilst doing it. The answer is found in a DotcomBlinds roller blind or in one of our Double Layered Roller Blinds.

Heating a home can put a squeeze on household budgets, and with an average annual bill from one of the ‘Big Six’ energy companies coming in at £1,155, it’s safe to see why. The problem is, it’s not the first energy price hike and it won’t be the last.

There are plenty of articles on the web explaining how to switch energy suppliers, get boiler breakdown cover and the benefits of cavity wall insulation, among others, but these things can be time consuming and expensive. The solution is far simpler: the humble blind.

Humble indeed, but in the depths of winter, with your heating system blasting out more kilowatts than the Sun, every little counts.

The University of Salford in 2015 ran a series of experiments to help develop new technology and improve energy efficiency in the home. However, this was no small-scale lab experiment. They tore a terraced house down from a Salford street and rebuilt it in a climate-controlled hangar in an experiment to test the savings that can be made using proper heating controls.

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Here they threw a variety of weather conditions at the house and replicated the kind of usage a normal home goes through: windows and doors opening, dinner cooking in the oven, the television going on after work. It was during one of these test that they found that blinds reduce heat loss by 13-14 per cent.

Now, a 13-14 per cent saving means a roller blind could save you £161.70 a year on your heating bill!

Having your windows covered by roller blinds will prevent heat leaving your room, but also trap cold air before it has a chance to enter. It allows better regulation of the temperature in the room through improved heat retention, which lets you take some of the pressure off your central heating. Everyone’s a winner.

Ok, 13-14 per cent reduction in heat loss may seem small in comparison to other forms of insulation, but roller blinds are very affordable and easy to get your hands on – and you don’t need a professional tradesman to install it for you.

That’s not all: roller blinds can actually form an important part of your room’s interior design by creating a focal point, giving a burst of colour or simply complimenting your furniture – we challenge you to say the same about rockwool insulation. Roller blinds are simple to install and come in a variety of styles, colours, fabrics and patterns to suit any room and any taste. But let’s not stop there.

On the flipside of the year, your home will benefit in the summer months. Roller blinds are a great reflector of sunlight and help to keep your home cool in the heat of the day. Look for Solar Reflective blinds on our website.

Over time, a stylish, easy to fit blind will save you money on your heating bills, so what are you waiting for? Shop our range of blinds and start saving money today!