I'm looking to replace some vertical blinds on a sliding glass door with curtains, and I've found a couple of the grommet top style that will work. I like one mainly for its looks, but it's basically just a single fabric layer. I can get a curtain with insulated acrylic backing for about $50 more, but it's visually less appealing to me (the fabric choices aren't quite as nice) and it's dry-clean only. I know the backing will provide extra light blocking (which I don't really care about for this passage), but will it actually provide any extra energy savings over the other choice? Once light passes through the window pane, it's just there, isn't it, curtain or no? Won't heat just rise out of the top?

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If you have drafty windows, you will find the insulated curtains will make a big difference. I have simple honeycomb shades with no insulation and I have drafty windows. In the winter I can't believe how much warmer it is in the room when the shades are lowered.

DM

I'm no aerospace thermal engineer specializing in insulating blankets, but I do drink with one. The insulation will make a difference, certainly $50 worth over the life of the curtains.

I could give a reasonable explanaition, but I really hate typing that much.

Yes.

Although I always thought the same thing, I've been told to imagine radiational effectiveness by standing at that same window on a hot Summer day with the sun baking through. You'd rather have that extra "blanket" between you and the sun, right ?
The same is true in the Winter, but it's the cold not the sun you're trying to block.

A tight fitting blanket would be more effective. More money, more work, especially if you want the sun coming through or visibility during the day.


Another thing I found that actually helps is to stick bubble wrap against the glass via osmotic pressure. Looks weird, but it is one more barrier. Not on all my windows, but on the North facing ones, which I don't need to necessarily see through during the day.

I still want to know what keeps that cold (or hot) air trapped between the glass and the window covering. Why doesn't it ooze out? Huh?

I'm no aerospace thermal engineer specializing in insulating blankets, but I do drink with one.

POMTL!!

Those honeycomb shades are terrific. The curtains will be a big help.

billb is right about the tight fitting blanket. The insulated curtains will allow you to feel the cold along the bottom edge, but the overall effect will be to block the direct cold (I'm not an aerospace thermal engineer specializing in insulating blankets, nor I do drink with one, in case you didn't notice) and the perception will be that of increased warmth.

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Quote
AlphaDog
I still want to know what keeps that cold (or hot) air trapped between the glass and the window covering. Why doesn't it ooze out? Huh?

Do your bed blankets have to be completely tucked in at night to be mostly effective ?


It helps. It's not a perfect solution.



Also consider: many radiators are beneath windows. Warm air rising.
Which meets the cold air trying to sink behind the curtain. Mexican stand-off.

It's still going to be less warm behind the curtain. You're trying to stop the room heat from going out the window.Transitional layer. It's the cold you feel. It's the heat loss you're trying to stop.

If you like the uninsulated curtains better, you might consider gettting a free hanging insulated liner to go behind them. I found this one on-line, but I think I have seen them at places like Linen n Things and Bed Bath & Beyond.

[www.countrycurtains.com]

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

ROC-LON Blackout Curtains
Cheap price, great insulating qualities.

BGnR
50 bucks more!?!? Way too much $$$.
[www.walmart.com]

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I have the RocLon curtains in the bedroom and the TV room. If you mount them close to the wall, they really work, and they do a great job as blackout curtains.

I'd like to have soundproof (Harleys) curtain liners.