November 7, 2024 — By Design NJ  

Energy efficient window treatments

In partnership with Metropolitan Window Fashions

Keep Your Home Temperate All Year Long with Energy-Efficient Window Shades

They’re eco- and wallet-friendly.

A wall of windows can elevate a room’s aesthetic — drenching it with natural light and offering views that change with the seasons. And the way those windows are dressed matters — and not just for decorative reasons.

According to the US Department of Energy, “About 30% of a home’s heating energy is lost through windows. In cooling seasons, about 76% of sunlight that falls on standard double-pane windows enters to become heat.”

Left: Thermal image without window covering | Right: Thermal image with Duette Architella shades | Image courtesy of Metropolitan Window Treatments

Our heating and air conditioning systems are doing the heavy lifting when it comes to maintaining comfortable temperatures in our homes, but wisely chosen window treatments can help ease the burden.

Layered shades, such as Hunter Douglas’ Duette® Honeycomb Shades, sold at Metropolitan Window Fashions, are an effective way to maximize energy efficiency. Duette features Architellaâ construction – a patented cell-within-a-cell layered system with four levels of fabric and three pockets that trap air to insulate windows and save energy, keeping your house warmer when the temps dip and cooler when they heat up. Studies by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have shown that cellular shades like these can reduce heating energy needs by almost 25%.

Duette Honeycomb Shades provide layers of protection against heat and air conditioning loss. | Photo courtesy of Metropolitan Window Fashions

While ecological awareness is its own reward, there’s even more for homeowners to gain. Recognizing the effectiveness of these shades, the federal government offers an energy tax credit on select energy-efficient Hunter Douglas Duette® Honeycomb Shades. You can earn 30% of the purchase price* back in the form of a tax credit, up to a maximum annual amount of $1,200. Listen to owner Bruce Heyman discuss Duette Honeycomb Shades — and  the cost savings that go along with them — here.

Duette Honeycomb Shades are available in eight colors and a wide variety of shapes and sizes to suit your needs.

  • Metropolitan Window Fashions has 6 locations in New Jersey. One of our talented, experienced decorators can come to your home and provide a free estimate
  • Duette is so effective that the federal government deemed it the most energy efficient window shade in the industry.
  • Studies have shown 15% savings each year on energy bills.