Insulation & R-value
What is R-value?
R-Value is primarily used as a measure of comfort in winter and indicates a fabric's ability to reduce the flow of heat through it. The higher the R-value, the better its resistance to heat loss or gain. A double honeycomb cellular shade (like our Symphony line) with its high R-value has superb insulating values which can result in substantial energy savings, year after year. Make sure you are making an “apples to apples” comparison! Because there is not standardized testing it is important to know what kind of window the company has used to test their fabric. . We list our R-Value with a variety of windows. More info on R-Value.
What is Shading Coefficient?
Shading Coefficient is important in hot weather and indicates a fabric's ability to reduce heat flow from the outside into your home through the window shade. A shading coefficient of 0.35 means 65% of the heat stays outside. On a hot day, heat coming in through your windows can raise room temperature by 15-20 degrees and make your air conditioning work two to three times harder. A lower shading coefficient translates into less heat gain, more reflected heat, and lower cooling costs for you. More info on R-Value.
R-value chart
Fabric |
Shade Only |
Single Pane
(+1) |
Double Pane
(+1.8) |
Triple Pane
(+3.5) |
Double Cell Light Filtering |
2.8 |
3.8 |
4.6 |
6.3 |
Double Cell Light Filtering with Tracks |
3.3 |
4.3 |
5.1 |
6.8 |
Double Cell Black Out |
4.0 |
5.0 |
5.8 |
7.5 |
Double Cell Black Out with Tracks |
4.7 |
5.7 |
6.5 |
8.2 |
Single Cell Light Filtering |
1.6 |
2.6 |
3.4 |
5.1 |
Single Cell Black Out |
2.5 |
3.5 |
4.3 |
6 |
Note: Single Cell shades are not available with side tracks |
Condensation
Condensation is the moisture that appears when water vapor hits a cold surface, like your windowpane. It is true that condensation can develop on the window behind a cellular shade. This is a testament to the fact that the shade is working. The warm air in the room is not reaching the window and it will develop condensation that may even freeze over. Occasionally wiping the moisture away and treating/sealing any wooden window frames will help prevent damage to your windows over time. Properly caulking windows will provide an added seal to your window openings.
Remember that condensation happens regardless of the window treatment. Luckily light filtering cellular shades can get wet without damaging the fabric. We recommend mounting any cellular shade approximately 1-4 inches away from the window glass, so it will not be saturated with the condensation and does not rub on the window frame.
If condensation is a concern for you, you can opt for the top down/bottom up feature. On particularly cold nights lowering the shade from the top down a few inches lowers the dew point behind the shade without sacrificing the energy saving benefits.
Why Cellular shades are considered green?
One of the best ways to help our environment is to reduce energy waste. Using fewer resources to heat or cool your home reduces your carbon footprint.
In many areas of the country, including from Vermont to Washington DC every shade that you install in your home will save you about $15/sq ft of glass covered in heating costs. Think of how much that saves in energy consumption!
According to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development 80-85% of the total energy consumption and CO2 emissions of a building comes from the occupants heating, cooling, ventilation, and hot water use. Cellular shades curb that consumption.
How do cellular shades save energy?
Cellular shade fabric is made up of honeycomb shaped cells that trap air. This creates an insulating layer on the window. So in the winter your warm heated air will stay in your house while the cold air coming through the window is stopped by the shades. In the summer the reverse happens.
Are all cellular fabrics the same?
Emphatically NO! Although cell size can vary and this affects insulating efficiency, the most important difference is in how the basic fabric is made.
All cellular fabrics are created from the same principle - a non-woven array of polyester fiber, but the construction of the fabric can vary greatly. There are two ways to create this array of fiber:
Bonded polyester- you can think of as being made from a process similar to paper. Bonded polyester is less porous reducing air flow . Furthermore, because our fabric is bonded particulates that would otherwise get caught in fabric remain on the surface of the shade where they can be vacuumed or dusted off. .
Spun lace- you can think of this polyester as being made similar to cotton candy. Spun lace is a soft open weave that air can pass through depositing particulates in that air within the web of the fabric. Think of it like your car’s air filter. This reduces the insulating value and the shade becomes “grungy” looking faster and is more difficult to clean.
If you have samples of the fabric you can easily differentiate by pouring coffee or soda on the fabric to see if it penetrates or runs off and how easily the stain is removed.
Are Cellular shades organic?
No, Cellular shades are not organic. The fabric is polyester, the head rail and bottom rail are metal, the cording is nylon and the brackets are stainless steel. All these elements are recyclable BUT there are dyes and glues in the fabric, which render them unrecyclable. But the saving and impact the shades make in terms of energy saving without question makes them an environmentally sound product made right here in the USA. The expected life cycle of a Cellular shade is so long that the whole recycling issue is academic because the shades stay out of the landfill far longer than their cheaper counterparts.
Does Hardware make a difference?
YES! Although a great deal of attention is typically given to the fabric when evaluating shades you also need to look at the hardware as that is what will give you durable, trouble free operation.
Broken cords are the most common point of failure. This can stem from a combination of how the cord is locked down, friction created within the cord lock and inadequate cord design and strength.
Our Cellular shades excel in this comparison. Our cord lock mechanism is robust and positive but does not have steel teeth that unnecessarily a braid the cord. We use a Delrin force distribution bearing that reduces friction and our 1.2mm cord is tightly woven with break strength 63% higher than most competition.
Comparison Shopping
Compare energy efficiency of various honeycomb shades
Compare our shades to other types of window treatments
Does it matter where the shades are made?
In terms of carbon footprint it is important to buy from an American company. We buy our parts from New York and all fabrication is done in Vermont so you know that you’re buying an American product.
Just as importantly as where your shades are made, is HOW your shades are made. We are very proud of our Vermont fabricators. Our attention to quality control is unmatched. With VERY low turnover, our fabricators have many years of experience so they know what makes a great shade. They sign every shade so you’ll know exactly who made your shade and that it has passed a full inspection. With our Window Shades you get the very best craftspeople working with the very best in raw materials.
What happens if my shades get out of level?
