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An Ideal Home report says closing curtains shortly before sunset can help slow heat loss through windows and may reduce the need for extra heating. Its writer measured temperature differences behind different window coverings, but the report does not establish a specific energy or bill saving.
An Ideal Home report says closing curtains shortly before sunset can help reduce heat escaping through windows, potentially keeping rooms comfortable for longer and limiting the need for extra heating. The writer’s observations found different temperature readings around thermal curtains, blinds and standard curtains, but the report gives no measured energy or bill savings.
The report’s writer says she resumed closing curtains early in the evening and found that her home felt warmer for longer. She measured a 2°C difference between the area in front of and behind her closed thermal curtains after sunset. That reading describes a local temperature difference, not a measured reduction in the home’s energy use.
Her comparison also found a difference of just under 1°C around wooden blinds and about half a degree around standard curtains. The writer said thermal curtains and blinds performed best in her home. These are observations from one property, not a controlled test, and the report does not provide details such as measurement methods or repeated readings.
Stuart Middleton, So Energy’s consumer energy expert, said curtains add a layer of insulation that can slow heat loss through glazing. He said thick, well-fitting or thermally lined curtains may be particularly effective. The report stresses that any potential saving depends on window type, curtain fit and material, and the home’s insulation.
How Curtains Could Affect Heating Use
For households trying to manage heating use as the weather turns colder, drawing curtains is a low-cost change that requires no special equipment. If a room retains warmth for longer, occupants may be able to delay turning on the heating or avoid using a portable electric heater for as long. The report describes that as a possible effect, not a guaranteed outcome.
The practical value depends on the home. Windows can be a source of heat loss, but curtains cannot correct poor insulation throughout a building or replace heating when a room needs it. The writer’s temperature readings offer an example of how window coverings may affect conditions near a window, but they do not show how much energy a household would save over an evening or across a winter.
That distinction matters when people are making decisions based on bills. The report gives no cost estimate for the curtain habit and does not quantify savings in kilowatt-hours. Readers should treat the advice as a simple measure that may improve comfort, rather than a promise of a particular reduction in heating costs.
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The Sunset Timing Advice
The report recommends closing curtains just before it gets dark. Its reasoning is to allow daylight to warm rooms where possible, then add the extra barrier as outdoor temperatures fall after sunset. The suggested time will change with location and season; the writer gives a local example of closing curtains around 4:30 p.m. ahead of a 4:52 p.m. sunset.
People who are away from home at that time could use a reminder or a curtain motor with a schedule. The article mentions the SwitchBot Curtain 3 and other devices as examples, and quotes Ideal Home digital editor Becky describing scheduled use of her own device. Those products are options, not required parts of the energy-saving advice.
The report also notes that window coverings differ. Thermal curtains are designed with insulating layers, while ordinary curtains and blinds may provide less of a barrier. Fit matters too: the expert cited in the report specifically refers to curtains that are well-fitting, as gaps around a window may affect how well the covering limits draughts.
“Closing your curtains at dusk is a simple way to help keep your home warm as temperatures drop.”
— Stuart Middleton, So Energy’s consumer energy expert
Savings Have Not Been Measured
The report does not quantify how much energy, money or heating time households might save by closing curtains early. It also does not describe a controlled comparison of rooms with curtains open and closed under the same conditions. The writer’s temperature differences are observations from her home, and should not be read as a forecast for other properties.
Results may differ with glazing, draughts, curtain coverage, heating settings and insulation. The report does not establish whether closing curtains at a particular time produces a measurable change in a household’s energy bill. Its reference to energy prices rising by 4% in October and forecasts of further increases in January is presented as context in the original article; it is not evidence that curtains will offset those costs.
A Simple Home Test This Evening
Households interested in the advice can try closing curtains shortly before local sunset and note whether rooms stay comfortable for longer. For a useful comparison, they would need to track the same room and conditions over time, including heating use; a single temperature reading cannot show the impact on a bill.
Those considering changes can first check whether existing curtains cover the window well and whether a thermal lining is suitable for the room. Automated curtain devices may help people who are away at sunset, but they add an upfront cost and are not necessary to try the habit. The report provides no follow-up energy data, so the scale of any savings remains unknown.
Key Questions
Does closing curtains early save energy?
It may help slow heat loss through windows and reduce the need for extra heating, according to the report. No specific energy or bill saving was measured, and the effect depends on the home.
When should I close my curtains?
The report recommends closing them shortly before sunset, after daylight has had a chance to warm the room. Sunset time varies by location and date.
Which curtains worked best in the report?
The writer found the largest temperature difference around thermal curtains and blinds in her home, followed by wooden blinds. This was a personal observation, not a controlled test of all products.
Can I automate curtains to close at sunset?
Yes. The article mentions curtain motors that can follow a schedule, and a device with a light sensor. They are optional; the report does not show that automation itself increases energy savings.
Source: rss
