Window Treatments for Washington, D.C. Homes Helps Environment Too

"This goes out to the 87 percent of households in the country with air conditioning, consuming a total of 185 million kWh of electricity every year. The need to lessen use, if not dependence, on cooling comes at an impeccable time. The Department of Energy finds an unlikely ally in the fight to provide enough energy for the future: window treatments. With proper management, the DOE believes blinds, shades, and other window treatments in Washington, D.C. And other areas can reduce heat gain by more than 70 percent. Blinds, for instance, can reduce heat gain by around 45 percent. Light-colored blinds perform well in keeping the heat out, but reflective aluminum blinds does the job better. Leaving the solar side of the aluminum blinds unfinished can increase the reflectivity of the window treatment[2]. On the other hand, shades are more versatile if you switch between the light and dark sides between seasons for cutting heat gain and heat loss respectively."

http://www.beltwayblinds.com/window-treatments-for-washington-d-c-homes-helps-environment-too/