Can External Blinds Improve Energy Efficiency?

Can External Solar Blinds Improve Energy Efficiency in Winter?

External blinds are popular in hot climates and increasingly becoming so in the UK to stop homes from overheating in the summer.

However, external blinds may also help to keep your home warm in the winter and make it more energy efficient.

How do they work?

External blinds are made from a high-quality solar glare reflective fabric and are installed on the outside of your home typically on an aluminium frame over windows, doors, roofs and skylights.

The special fabric prevents heat from entering buildings making them more efficient than interior blinds, reducing internal temperatures by up to 7C in overheated homes.

And although they are great at blocking heat, occupants are still able to see through the blinds to the world outside thanks to the fabric’s open weave, allowing you to enjoy the view outside.

Blinds Insulation During the Winter

External blinds can help keep your home insulated during the winter too because when lowered they trap a layer of air between the underside of the fabric and the glazing thereby providing extra insulation.

Although this theory hasn’t been scientifically tested, there is anecdotal evidence from homeowners who find their homes are warmer after having external blinds fitted.

Free Heating in Winter

During the winter, external blinds allow the low winter sun to flood into the house when raised unlike fixed shadings which will block out the sunlight all year round.

At a time when energy prices are constantly rising, the solar glare coming through your windows can help to reduce your heating bills by providing natural heating during daylight hours.

Control over Solar Glare

Unlike shutters and venetian blinds, our external blinds can be controlled by using an app or by connecting them to your home automation system giving you full control over how much solar glare you allow into your home on sunny winter days.

For example, we can install sensors which can set the blinds to raise or lower automatically when the room reaches a certain temperature, ensuring that your home stays warm throughout the evening.

A Well-Insulated Home

As we know only too well with our ageing housing stock, UK homes often struggle to be energy efficient though, thankfully, newer builds are becoming increasingly so.

According to the National Office of Statistics report Energy efficiency of housing in England and Wales: 2024, most UK houses fall in band D in energy efficiency – just one band above poor with band A being the most efficient and G the least efficient.

Good quality glazed windows and insulation can go a long way to improve our overall energy efficiency alongside cheaper fixes like heating controls to maintain an even temperature.

Choosing a Well-Established Blinds Installer

If you’re interested in external blinds, then make sure you use a reputable installer like Kensington Systems for residential, heritage and commercial.

We have more than 40 years of experience in the blinds industry and provide expert installation and assistance to help you choose the right type of external blinds for your home and ensure that they are installed to a high standard. Contact us today for more information and discover our real life external blinds case studies.