When should windows, blinds and awnings be kept open and closed, and why?

With windows, blinds, and awnings, you can better regulate the indoor temperature. This is perfect, because you want to have a comfortable room temperature without using too much energy. But why is it that windows, blinds and awnings can heat up your rooms, and when should you open or close them? We'll discuss that in this blog article.

Why homes cool down or warm up quickly

If you want to have the ideal room temperature, your home needs to be protected from outdoor weather influences.

And not all houses are. Some buildings are poorly insulated and let through cold air quickly. Well-insulated homes, on the other hand, are often equipped with large windows that let through an enormous amount of sunlight. These homes can heat up quickly during summer heatwaves.

So your home should be able to resist the heat and cold. Otherwise, you'll be using the heater or cooler more often than not.

Why control the room temperature with windows and window decoration

Yes, you can control the room temperature with the use of a boiler and air conditioning. But we all know that these are pricy and unsustainable alternaties to keep your home warm or cool.

So what's the cheaper, environment-friendlier alternatives? Windows, awnings and blinds. They don't function like boilers and air conditioners, but when used correctly, you can influence room temperature if you open and close your windows and sun shading systems at the right times.

When to open and close your windows and awnings in the summer?

During the summer, it gets hot outside. The hot sun causes homes to heat up quickly. And once it gets hot inside, some people instinctively open their windows.

Don’t do that. You shouldn't forget that during a summer day, it’s hotter outside than inside. The ideal room temperature is generally around 20° C. When you open your windows during a 30° C heatwave, expect your home to heat up quickly.

Hotter air from outside enters your room once you open your windows. This causes your home to heat up even more quickly.

You won’t keep your home cool by just closing your windows, as the sun shines effortlessly into your room. That’s why you need to consider sun shading solutions like drop-arm awnings, roller shutters and zipscreens.

Morning: Roll down your blinds and awnings

Roll down your blinds, awnings screens before the sun rises. Make sure that they cover your windows entirely. These products prevent sunlight from entering your home, which results in darker rooms and lower room temperatures. When you cover all of your windows with a zipscreen, you can lower the maximum room temperature with several degrees Celsius.

Evening: Roll up blinds and open windows

After sunset it gets colder outside. Time to open your windows and roll up your blinds and screens. Fresh air enters your home and cools down your room. But even at night, you should first check the temperature before opening your windows. If the outdoor temperature is still higher than your room temperature, you should keep your windows closed.

When to open and close your windows during winters?

Though you might be inclined to keep your windows closed during winters, it’s always a good idea to open them for a short amount of time each day. It improves the air quality in your home and your health benefits from some fresh air. Obviously, don’t leave your windows open for too long. Otherwise, your home will cool down quickly.

Roller shutters, screens and blinds are great products for keeping your home warm during the winter. When added in front of your window, they form an insulating layer that prevents the heat from escaping your room.

During the day, you will want to keep your screens and blinds rolled up, so that the sun can shine into your home. Not only will you get the needed daylight, but your home will also warm up to a certain extent. Once the sun has set, it’s time to roll out your sun shading device for that extra bit of insulation.

Control room temperature automatically

Let’s face it — we all forget to roll up or roll down our blinds or screens sometimes. Mistakes happen, but these mistakes often result in an uncomfortable room temperature.

Dynamic sun shading solutions help you control the room temperature more easily, as they can open and close automatically.

For instance, you can open your drop-arm awning or zipscreen with a remote controller or with your own smartphone. These products can open and close at set times. When your sun shading system is equipped with a sun sensor, it opens and closes based on the amount of light the sun sensor is exposed to.

More information

Not only can you regulate the room temperature with windows and sun shading; products like roller shutters, sun awnings and zipscreens have many other benefits too. Discover them on our product page.