Energy Efficient Shades

Home fix-ups before guests arrive should preceed holiday decorating
Instead of concentrating on holiday decorations, hosts of the DIY Network's show, "Brothers on Call," suggest that homeowners do a walk-through of their homes before guests arrive to make sure it's holiday ready.

Alabama residents experiencing record setting heat
Throughout much of the United States, this summer has been one of the hottest in recent memory. According to The Birmingham News, Alabama has been suffering from heat that has never before been felt, even in the deep south.

Combine green design an energy efficiency with woven bamboo shades
Over the last 10 years, the amount of green-building initiatives has been continually growing and while building an intelligent, energy efficient home has also become popular, according to TriplePundit.com, doing both at the same time as proven to be difficult.

Woven shades can provide energy efficiency
The home of a Northampton, Massachusetts couple sits among a relatively ordinary street, but it stands out among the rest of the houses because of an eco-friendly design and the way it blends into its surroundings, the Boston Globe reports.

Take advantage of tax breaks with cell shades
With the economy still lagging, the housing market continues to struggle. According to the Herald Times Reporter, as fewer homes are being built, many homeowners are turning to renovation rather than looking for a new house altogether.

Reduce energy bill, temperature with honeycomb shades
Summer has been burning on all cylinders and temperatures have been consistently rising. With higher temperatures inevitably comes higher cooling costs. According to KATV - Middleton, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that 49 percent of the average home's electric bill is spent on heating and cooling.

Cell shades may help reduce cooling costs
As the weather heats up, many homeowners may turn down the temperature on their air conditioner units to cool off - which may get expensive. MSNBC.com reports that cooling costs run homeowners approximately $400/year on average. But investing in new window shades may help individuals save money on energy bills.

Bamboo blinds efficient, eco-friendly
When Shanghai Expo organizers launched the Low Carbon Expo Tour on June 5, they revealed a slue of eco-friendly homes on the public. Most unique, however may have been the Madrid Case Pavilion - a house made entirely of bamboo.

Fixing window frames and installing shades may help reduce summer energy bills
Homeowners are always looking for way to save energy, and this summer they may want to start by fixing their windows. Experts suggest that fixing old frames and installing shades may help keep cool air inside and warm air out.

Shades can do more than dress up a window
When decorating a room, window treatments may often be regarded as an afterthought. But, while some may think that shades merely dress up the windows, "they can do much more," design expert Colleen McNally told LincolnCourier.com.