Can Window Treatments Save You Money?

With utility costs perpetually on the rise, most homeowners these days are looking for ways to minimize their energy use and save money in the process. Plenty of home improvement options are designed to lower utility bills on a whole, from siding to attic insulation to energy-efficient windows and doors. However, some people might not realize that the right window treatments can actually be quite instrumental in reducing energy costs over time.

Craig Rogers is the owner of Blind Tailors, Inc., a blinds and closet design company in North Carolina. He says certain types of window treatments can actually save homeowners money on their utility bills down the line. While not all types of window treatments can offer a lot in the way of additional heating, most window treatments are actually somewhat instrumental in keeping sunlight away during the warm weather months and cooling household interiors in the process. Locking in warmth is a different story, as most types of window treatments aren’t equipped with insulating properties. However, there are two exceptions to this general rule – cellular shades and plantation shutters.

According to Rogers, cellular shades and plantation shutters are probably the two most energy-efficient window treatments that his company has to offer. The pleated design of cellular shades works to trap air, which then acts as a natural insulator by locking in warmth and keeping it in place. The same concepts applies to plantation shutters, which can also trap air while acting as barriers between the indoors and the outdoors. Most homeowners who end up having cellular shades or plantation shutters installed tend to find that their heating and cooling bills are a lot less burdensome as a result.

Since cellular shades and plantation shutters are known to be energy efficient, one might wonder if they are eligible for any sort of tax credit. After all, the 2009-2010 energy tax credit allows homeowners to receive 30% off of eligible energy efficient windows – up to $1,500 in total - provided that they are purchased by the end of 2010. Therefore, wouldn’t it make sense for similarly efficient window treatments to qualify for the credit as well?

Rogers has been asked this question before, and at this point, the best advice he can offer is that the issue is one that is still up for debate. Legally, in order for any household item to be deemed eligible for the tax credit, it must be specifically and primarily designed to reduce heat loss or gain. While some window treatments do work to satisfy the heat-related demands, most are chiefly designed for decoration and privacy purposes; the energy-efficiency factor happens to be a convenient side effect. Additionally, the extent to which window treatments might end up meeting the criteria for energy efficiency depends a lot on homeowner behavior. So unless a person can prove to the IRS that he is leaving his shades down all the time as required, the claim that his window treatments are working to save energy will not necessarily hold water.

If you’re looking for window treatments that will offer you the benefit of style, privacy, and reduced energy costs, then cellular shades and plantation shutters might both be good options for you. However, don’t start counting on that energy tax credit just yet. Although some manufacturers are issuing certifications on certain window treatments in order to help customers get their government rebates, most are unwilling or unable to stand behind their products in this manner, as strict penalties are at stake for issuing false or improper certifications. Therefore, as you go to make your window treatment purchases, be sure to hang on to all of the relevant documents, as the government might end up honoring your claim come tax time. And remember, even if you don’t end up getting a tax credit, there are still plenty of good reasons to grace your home with energy-efficient cellular shades and plantation shutters.