TL;DR
Get backup power and energy gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
An Ideal Home writer reports that closing curtains shortly before sunset helped keep rooms warmer in their home, with a measured 2°C difference across thermal curtains and blinds. An energy expert says curtains can slow heat loss through windows, but the energy or bill savings have not been quantified and depend on the home and window coverings.
Closing curtains before sunset may help reduce heat loss through windows, according to an Ideal Home report that tested the habit in one home. The writer measured a 2°C difference between the areas in front of and behind thermal curtains and blinds after dark, but the report does not quantify how much energy or money the practice saved.
The report’s writer said they had resumed closing curtains early and found the home felt warmer for longer in the evening, reducing the perceived need to turn on the central heating for another hour. That is a personal observation, not a controlled test of heating use or energy bills. The temperature readings were taken on one side and the other of different window coverings; they do not establish a whole-room temperature change or a specific reduction in energy consumption.
Stuart Middleton, So Energy’s Consumer Energy Expert, said windows can be a source of heat loss and that curtains add a layer that slows heat escaping. He said thick, well-fitting or thermally lined curtains may be particularly effective. The report offers no universal savings figure, noting that results depend on window type, curtain quality and the home’s insulation.
For timing, the writer recommends drawing curtains just before sunset, after allowing daylight to provide warmth during the day. In the example given, sunset was at 4:52 p.m. and the writer set a reminder for 4:30 p.m. That time is specific to the example location and date, not a fixed recommendation for every household.
Curtains Can Slow Window Heat Loss
The practical appeal is that drawing existing curtains costs nothing and may make a room feel more comfortable without immediately adding heating. If occupants feel warmer, they may choose to run heating for less time, but the report does not measure that effect. Comfort and energy savings are related but not identical: a warmer-feeling area near a window does not by itself show that a household used less gas or electricity.
The reported readings also suggest that the material and fit matter. The writer found the largest difference, 2°C, around thermal curtains and blinds; the difference was just under 1°C around wooden blinds and about 0.5°C around standard curtains and fabric blinds. These are observations from one home, rather than results that can be assumed for other properties or products.
Products Worth Considering
Autel Home EV Charger up to 50A J1772 Hardwired Level 2 Charger with 25 ft Cable
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1 in. Impact Wrench Extended Reach D-Handle Kit with Two 12.0 Ah Batteries
NOCO Boost GB70 2000A UltraSafe Jump Starter, 12V Lithium Battery Booster
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
A One-Home Test Before Sunset
The Ideal Home article places the advice amid colder weather and rising energy costs, but its test focuses on a household habit rather than a national energy study. It cites an earlier recommendation by Martin Lewis to close curtains at sunset; the article’s contribution is the writer’s account of trying the practice and comparing temperatures around several kinds of window coverings.
The report also describes options for households that are away at sunset. It mentions scheduled curtain devices, including the SwitchBot Curtain 3, and a light-sensor product from Aqara. Ideal Home digital editor Becky said she used a schedule with the SwitchBot device, adjusting it seasonally. These are personal experiences and product examples, not independent evidence that automation delivers a particular energy or bill reduction.
“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
Savings Have Not Been Measured
The report does not provide a controlled comparison of heating use, household energy bills or temperatures across multiple homes. It is not clear how much energy the habit saves, or whether the readings in the writer’s home would be similar with different windows, heating systems, curtain fit or insulation. The reported temperature differences describe readings around window coverings, not a verified 2°C increase in the home’s overall temperature.
The article also cites energy-price changes, including a 4% rise in October and forecasts of increases between 16% and 25% in January, but it does not specify in the supplied material the tariff, market, source or comparison period for those figures. They should not be treated as a calculation of what a household can save by closing curtains.
Households Can Check Their Own Results
Readers can try closing curtains shortly before local sunset and note whether rooms feel more comfortable, while keeping in mind that personal impressions do not establish bill savings. Comparing energy use would require accounting for weather, heating settings and other changes in the home. The report gives no follow-up measurement or planned wider test, so the size of any energy reduction remains unreported.
For people considering automated curtains, the article describes scheduling and light-sensor functions but does not assess their cost against any energy savings. The next useful evidence would be measurements of heating use and indoor temperatures over comparable periods, across homes with different glazing and window coverings.
Key Questions
Does closing curtains before sunset save energy?
It may help slow heat loss through windows, according to So Energy expert Stuart Middleton and the Ideal Home report. The report does not quantify the energy or bill savings.
When should I close my curtains?
The report suggests closing them shortly before sunset, after daylight has entered the home. Sunset time varies by location and date, so its 4:30 p.m. example is not universal.
Which curtains performed best in the report?
The writer reported the largest measured difference, 2°C, around thermal curtains and blinds. The observations came from one home and do not establish how products will perform elsewhere.
Do automated curtain devices guarantee lower bills?
No bill reduction was reported for the devices discussed. The article describes scheduling and light-sensor features, but does not compare their cost with measured energy savings.
Source: rss
