Energy Effecient Window Treatments

I recently purchased into a 1000 sq/ft condo. It is a corner unit with many large windows and high ceilings. I'm looking to purchase window coverings for privacy, insulation, and light control. My plan has been to purchase online and self-install. During my research, I discovered ComforTrack Cellular Shades. They are basically just standard cellular shades with vertical tracks on the window-frames to prevent light and air leakages. They are more expensive than standard shades but appear to qualify for a tax credit that refunds 30% of the purchase price up to $1500. This makes them very similarly priced to standard shades after the credit.

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1.) Does anyone have any experience with this (or similar) product? Is self-installation reasonable?

2.) Can anyone confirm these type of energy savings estimates? Energy Savings Calculator

3.) Does anyone have any knowledge/experience with this tax credit? Tax Credit Info

4.) Any alternative products or online vendors that can be recommended?

Thanks!

The windows themselves are going to provide the most insulation. Are they double or triple pane? Are they tinted?

How about applying tinting from the inside? We had an 85% (?) tinted film applied to the inside of our front, south-facing storm door. That tremendously cut the amount of heat coming through the glass. The risk of a highly transmissive storm door for us was that it could cause the regular door to warp.

Before we installed the tinting, even in the cold dead of winter, with the low angle of the sun, the front door was reaching temps over 200°.

You may not be able to install interior tinting but it might be worth investigating. Or, the glass itself may already be somewhat reflective, in which case you would not be able to see evidence of an external film.

If the windows are relatively new and of good quality, you should have to worry too much about air flow when they're closed.

Bump.

I bought ComforTrack double-celled blackout cellular shades for our master bedroom from BlindsChalet.com. They're one of many online retailers that accept orders and then forward the orders to a smaller number of actual manufacturers. BlindsChalet.com has a rolling 30% coupon that 'expires' frequently, only to be replaced immediately with a new 30% coupon.

Self-installation was *easy*. In a standard installation (inside-mount in a wooden sill), it's just four screws to hold the brackets to the top of the sill. The shade header just snaps in. The rails that run up and down the sides of the shades are actually held in place by a strip of magnetic tape. It's important to get everything square with the other parts, but it's not difficult to do.

The shades we got are good quality. We live at the corner of two fairly busy country roads...at the stop sign, kids and other idiots will sometimes peel out, and we were looking for something to cut down the noise, in addition to the light. Energy efficiency was actually fairly low on our list of priorities, as the windows are already energy efficient and receive only indirect light anyway (except in the early morning!). They do a fairly good job of keeping the vast majority of light out, but the vertical tracks are thin plastic and light easily leaks through them. They actually do slightly, but noticeably, reduce noise from outside, but it's nothing to get really excited about.

We opted for the "top-down, bottom-up" option. It's an excellent way to preserve your privacy...we have the shades all the way down, but we also lower the top of the shade about a foot or two from the top to let in a good amount of ambient light (remember, the shades are blackout) without letting anyone see us from the street. I highly recommend it.

Overall we're very happy with them. And we'll be sure to apply for the tax credit next year.

And I'm sending you a PM.

--Chris

SigX said: You are going to pay 50%+ more for the 'certified' blinds that qualify for the tax credit. We have some very large windows and only part of the cost of the certified blinds (actually only the cost of the side tracks, not the blinds themselves as I understand it) is eligible for the tax credit.

Thanks for contributing..... But, where did you get this info that only the "side-track" portion of the blinds was eligible for the credit. That sounds crazy. The side tracks don't increase energy efficiency without the use of the blinds. That would be like giving an energy credit for people adding solar panels to their homes but only give rebates for the cost of the "mounting hardware" that held the panels in place.

Could you provide any supporting evidence for this?

Xnarg said: How about applying tinting from the inside?

Do (sane) people actually apply tint on the OUTSIDE of a window? Seriously.

Sig X- I look forward to hearing what you find out. Thanks for digging!

pj737 said: Xnarg said: How about applying tinting from the inside? Do (sane) people actually apply tint on the OUTSIDE of a window? Seriously.I was referring to the option of adding aftermarket tinted film as opposed to buying new windows in which the glass itself is already tinted.

Shop around for windows if you are that concerned. I guarantee that $200 in comfort track plus will not insulate your house as well as $400 triple pane double low-e windows on a dollar for dollar basis.

Before I replaced my contractor grade double pane windows they would sweat like mad on the really cold days 15 degrees and below. If I put up a vapor barrior of comfort track plus, all I would have is a giant mold culture on the caulking, shades, and wooden window sills.

Good: Multi-pane & thick drapes.
Better: Add exterior storm shutter.
Best: Brink 'em up, YO!

owenscott said: pj737 said: Xnarg said: How about applying tinting from the inside? Do (sane) people actually apply tint on the OUTSIDE of a window? Seriously. Well the sun will pass through the window and heat the film on the inside projecting (radiating) the heat in to the room....The film reflects the solar energy back through the glass, it does NOT radiate or project the heat into the room.

owenscott said: So i am wrong to think the film heats up at all ....? i'm talking about tint film ... guess you mean the reflective stuff ... which still should heat some ... even a mirror heats up outside.Everything heats up outside in the sun.

Put a mirror out in the sun next to a chunk of metal with black paint on it. See which one gets hotter. The hotter of the two is going to be the one that absorbs the energy rather than reflects it.

Consider a window whereby the glass itself is tinted. How does that differ from a window which is coated inside with tinting? The glass will heat up a little, but not much. There's only going to be a slight difference in heat radiated into the interior of the home.

Remember that OP is talking about using blinds which would indeed allow heat into the home - they aren't 100% sealed and insulated - which are going to be far less efficient than tinting.

I have a glass storm door on our south-facing front entry. I had the door tinted with film on the inside. It's amazing how little heat gets through. I opted for the 2nd highest degree of reflectivity because the highest did not look good.

owenscott said: Xnarg said: There's only going to be a slight difference in heat radiated into the interior of the home.
.... ok, so you prove my point. Thanks.Slight as in: "inconsequential and not worth considering."

We shouldn't lose sight of the forest for the window tinting.

ablang said: I recommend 3M Windows Security Film, which also provides solar benefits, but is almost shatter-proof against thieves.Another 3M products is a clear window film that's applied on a plastic frame and provides a layer of insulating air.