The Benefits of Installing External Blinds
Discover the numerous advantages of adding external blinds to your home for enhanced comfort and energy efficiency.
Understanding External Blinds
External blinds are a type of window covering that is installed on the outside of your home. They are designed to block sunlight, heat, and glare from entering your living space, while still allowing you to enjoy natural light and outside views.
These blinds work by creating a barrier between your windows and the sun. They are typically made of heat-reflecting fabrics that reflect the sun's rays, preventing them from entering your home and heating up the interior.
By understanding how external blinds work, you can make an informed decision about whether they are the right choice for your home.
Key Benefits of External Blinds
There are several key benefits to installing external blinds in your home. These include:
- Reducing or Preventing Overheating
- A Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Cooling Choice
- Maintain Natural Light and Outside Views
- Compatible with Smart Home Automation
Preventing Overheating
One of the main benefits of installing external blinds is their ability to reduce or prevent overheating in your home. Windows act as a source of heat gain, allowing sunlight to enter and heat up the interior. This can lead to uncomfortable living conditions, especially during the summer months.
External blinds act as a barrier between your windows and the sun, reflecting the sun's rays and preventing them from entering your home. Studies have shown that installing exterior blinds can reduce indoor temperatures by up to 5 degrees or more compared to a house with no shading. This can make a significant difference in the comfort of your living environment, helping you stay cool and comfortable even on the hottest days.
Even if you do decide to install air conditioning as well, external blinds help to reduce the cooling load, allowing the AC to use less energy overall.
Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Cooling
In addition to preventing overheating, external blinds offer a sustainable and energy-efficient cooling choice for your home. Unlike air conditioning units that require a constant power supply, external blinds only require a small amount of electricity to raise and lower them.
By using exterior blinds instead of air conditioning, you can significantly reduce your energy consumption and lower your electricity bills. For example, a single 480-watt AC unit uses approximately 0.48 kWh per hour or 11.52 kWh per day, while an average 4+ bedroom home with 4-5 occupants uses approximately 11.32 kWh per day.
Looking at it like this, using a single AC unit could double your energy usage and electricity bill. External blinds provide a more sustainable and cost-effective cooling method, helping you save both energy and money.
In addition, some of the refrigerants used in air conditioning units are potent greenhouse gases, which if released into the atmosphere further contribute to climate change.
Preserving Natural Light and Views
While exterior blinds are effective in reducing heat and glare, they still allow natural light to enter your home. The heat-reflecting fabrics used in these blinds are designed to reflect heat while still allowing light to pass through.
This means that you can enjoy the benefits of natural light in your living space without the added heat and glare. In addition, the open weave of the fabric allows you to see through the blind to the outside. Unlike shutters or venetian blinds, external roller blinds allow you to continue to enjoy your views while remaining comfortable on hot days.
Furthermore, outdoor blinds also help protect your furniture and belongings from sun damage. The heat-reflecting fabrics block harmful UV rays, preventing them from fading or damaging your interior furnishings.
Integration with Smart Home Technology
External blinds can be seamlessly integrated with smart home automation systems, allowing you to control them remotely using an app or by connecting them to your home automation system.
With smart home integration, you can easily raise or lower the blinds with a simple tap on your smartphone or automate their operation based on specific conditions. For example, you can set the blinds to lower automatically when the room reaches a certain temperature, ensuring that your home stays cool throughout the day, even when you're not there.
This level of control and automation allows you to create a more comfortable and energy-efficient living environment, tailored to your preferences and lifestyle.
Expert Installation and Assistance
When it comes to installing outdoor blinds, it is important to work with a reputable company that has the knowledge and experience to deliver a high-quality installation.
Kensington Systems, with over 40 years of experience in the blinds industry, can provide expert installation and assistance throughout the entire process. They have the expertise to help you choose the right type of external blinds for your home and ensure that they are installed to a high standard.
By partnering with Kensington Systems, you can have peace of mind knowing that your exterior blinds will not only look great but also be easy to maintain and provide long-lasting performance.
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