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An Ideal Home report says closing curtains shortly before sunset can help reduce heat loss through windows and keep rooms warmer. Its writer measured temperature differences of up to 2°C around thermal curtains, but those observations do not establish a typical household energy or bill saving.
Closing curtains before sunset may help reduce heat escaping through windows and keep rooms warmer, according to a report by Ideal Home. The outlet’s writer reported a temperature difference of up to 2°C around thermal curtains at home, while noting that the effect on energy use and bills depends on the property and its window coverings.
Ideal Home describes drawing curtains at dusk as a no-cost habit that can add a layer between a room and its windows. The report says this may slow heat loss and make a room feel warmer, potentially reducing the need to turn on heating for longer or use a portable heater. Those are possible effects, not a measured estimate of energy or money saved.
The writer compared temperatures in front of and behind different window coverings after sunset. They reported a 2°C difference around thermal curtains and blinds, just under 1°C around wooden blinds, and about 0.5°C around standard curtains. These are observations from one home; the report does not provide a controlled test or establish that other homes will see the same results.
Stuart Middleton, So Energy’s consumer energy expert, told Ideal Home that windows can be a source of heat loss and that curtains create an extra insulating layer. He said thick, well-fitting or thermally lined curtains can be particularly effective, while the potential savings depend on the windows, curtains and level of insulation in the home.
Curtains May Reduce Evening Heat Loss
The advice matters to households seeking low-cost ways to stay comfortable during colder weather. Closing curtains does not require buying equipment or changing a heating system, and may help reduce the chill near windows. However, the report does not show how much energy or money a household would save, so readers should treat the temperature readings as an example rather than a forecast for their own home.
The likely benefit varies with the condition and type of glazing, draughts, room layout, insulation and curtain fit. The report’s comparison suggests that thermal coverings performed better than standard ones in the writer’s home, but it does not establish a universal ranking or quantify the effect on heating bills. Any saving would depend on whether the warmer room leads occupants to use less heating.
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Timing and Window Coverings Matter
The report recommends closing curtains just before sunset, rather than leaving them open after daylight ends. Its explanation is that this allows sunlight to warm the room during the day while adding a layer over the glazing as outside temperatures fall. The appropriate time changes with the season and location; the writer suggests checking the local sunset time rather than relying on a fixed hour.
For people away from home at dusk, the report notes that motorised curtain devices can be scheduled to close at set times. It also describes a light-sensor option and a device for roller shades. These products are examples in the source, not necessary parts of the basic advice: manually closing curtains is the central, no-cost measure.
Ideal Home’s writer said the home felt warmer for longer after adopting the habit and reported taking temperature readings over the preceding week. The source gives no full testing protocol, outdoor temperature record, energy-meter data or comparison with heating use when curtains were left open.
“Windows can be a source of heat loss, so drawing your curtains creates an additional layer of insulation that helps slow the rate at which heat escapes.”
— Stuart Middleton, So Energy’s consumer energy expert, speaking to Ideal Home
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Household Savings Remain Unmeasured
The report does not quantify energy use or bill savings from closing curtains, and it does not establish that the reported temperature differences would occur in other homes. It also does not state the measurement equipment, exact positions or conditions, or whether heating was operating during the readings. The writer’s account that the rooms felt warmer is subjective and should be distinguished from a measured reduction in energy consumption.
It is also unclear how much the effect would change with different glazing, existing draught-proofing, curtain gaps or heating routines. The report discusses an energy-price increase and forecasts for later in the year, but the supplied material does not identify the date or provide enough detail to independently assess those figures. No specific bill reduction can be inferred from the curtain measurements alone.
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Check Sunset and Compare Comfort
For readers trying the habit, the report’s practical suggestion is to close curtains shortly before local sunset and use well-fitting, thicker or thermal curtains where available. People can check their local sunset time and decide whether a reminder or scheduled device is useful. The report does not require readers to buy an automation product to try the approach.
To judge whether it helps in a particular home, occupants can compare room comfort and heating use across similar evenings, while recognising that weather and heating settings can affect the comparison. Ideal Home’s source does not announce a follow-up study or a verified savings figure, so the amount of any energy reduction remains unconfirmed.
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Key Questions
Does closing curtains early save energy?
It may help slow heat loss through windows and could reduce the need for heating, according to the Ideal Home report. The report does not measure a typical energy or bill saving.
When should curtains be closed?
The report recommends closing them shortly before sunset. Sunset time varies by location and season, so it suggests checking the local time rather than following one fixed hour.
Do thermal curtains work better than standard curtains?
In the writer’s home, thermal curtains and blinds had a reported temperature difference of 2°C across the covering, compared with about 0.5°C for standard curtains. These individual readings do not prove the same results will apply in other homes.
Can curtains lower heating bills by a specific amount?
The source provides no verified bill-saving figure. Any effect would depend on factors including the windows, curtain fit, insulation and whether occupants use less heating.
Source: rss
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