A Quick and Easy Trick to Save on A/C Costs This Summer
We actually implemented this simple, low-cost solution to keep the cold out this past winter, and I was surprised how much of a difference it made in the temperature of our coldest rooms. We were able to reduce our heater usage by a significant amount and didn’t have to invest in anything expensive or permanent. I thought I’d be removing our temporary window coverings when the weather warmed up, but it turns out that the same solution works for keeping the heat out and cooling down a room during the warmer months as well!
What can you do to keep the blazing sun from creating stifling heat in your bedroom this summer? If your window casings will allow, all it takes is a pair of insulated blackout curtains, hung with a tension rod. That’s it! Keep reading for the step-by-step.
Supplies:
Step 1) Measure the height and width of your window opening. Find a pair of insulated blackout curtains that will fit. Note that some panels are sold as singles, and some as pairs. I tried a couple of curtains before choosing the AmazonBasics brand, which is, as the name implies, very basic looking indeed and isn’t going to win you any design awards. They’re also a bit stiff, but it kept the cold out much better than its softer, silkier looking competitor. I chose the style with a rod pocket instead of grommets, assuming that I didn’t want any cold (or heat) coming through the grommet holes.
Step 2) Find a tension rod that’s at least a couple inches wider than your window opening, and insert it through the rod pocket of your curtains. Adjust your tension rod so that it’s slightly wider than your window opening, slide it between the two walls, and allow it to expand. Fluff out your curtains, and you’re done!
Keep in mind that, these being blackout curtains, the light coming through your windows will be virtually blocked. If you enjoy waking up to sunlight streaming through your windows in the morning, you’ll have to consider some kind of alternative (a wake-up light alarm clock, perhaps?), but the effectiveness of this simple setup is well worth it, in my opinion. In the mornings, I simply use the included tie-backs to let the morning light in. And when it starts to heat up, I let the curtains fall back down and relish in my not-so-stifling-anymore room.
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