According to a research from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, cellular or honeycomb shades had the potential to save millions of tons of carbon emissions during the winter months.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) of the Department of Energy has demonstrated that honeycomb window shades save more energy during the winter than generic venetian blinds and save millions of tons of carbon emissions.
Windows, which let heat escape, help to heat up residential buildings, and coverings, which help to keep the heat from getting trapped. Researchers used the same cellular shades for two heating seasons in the Southeast United States.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory examined the performance of honeycomb shades in a two-story residential property in the Southeast, and they found that honeycomb structures conserve energy in the winter and may reduce carbon emissions. Credit: ORNL, US Department of Energy
Mahabir Bhandari of ORNL described how the cellular shades would perform in different climate zones. "Chemical emissions could potentially be reduced up to 3 million tons when using a 20% penetration rate of cellular shades in residential buildings."
Niraj Kunwar, Mahabir Bhandari, and Dragan C. Curcija, "National Energy Saving Potential of Cell Shades," Building and Environment, DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109593
The proportion of household energy expenses that goes toward heating varies depending on factors such as the region, the size of the house, and the heating system used. However, the average American household spends about 42% of its energy bills on heating and cooling together, both in colder areas and large houses that require more energy to heat.
