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There are a lot of home improvements you can tackle if you're looking to improve your energy efficiency in Minneapolis-St. Paul. You can upgrade your insulation, improve attic ventilation, install new doors and windows, and even pay out for more energy-efficient furnaces and air conditioners. One area that's often overlooked, however, is adding new window treatments. Installing Minneapolis window coverings on your windows is a great way to reap surprising results in winter and summer in the Twin Cities, and compared to most of the other energy-efficient upgrades mentioned above, it will likely cost quite a bit less. What are the best window coverings to consider when it comes to cutting your costs year round? Read on to discover the possibilities.

Minneapolis Window Covering in Winter
Minneapolis is known for its winters. It has the coldest average year round temperature of any major metropolitan area in the continental United States, experiences winter lows that average below zero for months at a time, and the Twin Cities sport record lows that can dip to 40 degrees below zero! Even the best windows and the highest insulation ratings can use a little help with those kinds of temperature readings. Here's a short list of the best window treatments you can buy if you're looking to add yet another barrier between you and a cold Arctic blast.

  • Cellular Shades—When it comes to energy-efficient window covering in Minneapolis, there isn't a close second to cellular shades. Their honeycomb design creates a thick layer of insulating air between your home and your window glass, and unlike some of the other window covering strategies we'll mention, they won't leave you in the dark. Since they insulate by design, and not by using heavy fabric or other dense materials, you can have them installed in light colors that keep out the cold, and still let the sunlight in.

  • Heavy Drapery—Those lace curtains look great, but they don't do much in the order of protecting you and yours from a Twin Cities winter. Combine them with some heavy drapes, however, and you've got a formula for success. Drapes are also one of the best solutions for sliding glass doors or other large windows, where logistics, or cost, can rule out other forms of window covering in Minneapolis. The downside: they block out the light while they insulate. You can always leave them open during the day and shut them at night, but you won't get the same kind of energy savings that you can get with other window coverings that provide insulation and let light through, allowing you to leave them down around the clock.

  • Insulated Panels—Since this article focuses on energy efficiency rather than looks, it pays to at least mention insulated panels. Cut to fit your window spaces, these panels amount to adding a layer of insulation directly to your windows. They will work absolute wonders when it comes to reducing your heating bills, but in the looks and light department, they come in dead last.

    Minneapolis Window Covering in Summer
    Minneapolis window covering is not just for reducing your winter heating bills, but should also be on your radar if your home heats up like an oven, or if you find that you're running your A/C around the clock during summertime. After all, while the average high summer temps in the Twin Cities are usually pretty comfortable, the hundred degree mark has been broken in every month June through September in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Just as with winter-savvy window treatments, providing a barrier between you and the heat can put a big dent in the amount of money you have to pay out every month, and make your home a lot more comfortable to boot.

  • See Winter Window Treatments—In the interest of saving space, we'll refer you to the previous section first. All of those window covering solutions mentioned for keeping out the cold, also keep out the heat and sun when it comes to the dog days of summer. One thing worth mentioning: with the exception of cellular shades, some homeowners will find heavy drapes and insulated panels even more objectionable in the summertime than in winter because of light issues. After all, we're used to dark, dreary days in wintertime. When summer hits, however, most of us prefer to see the light.

  • Blinds—Blinds are a good compromise if you're looking for window treatments that make sense in summer. Whether you choose wood blinds, a composite material, or even cheaper Venetian blinds, the ability to adjust the amount of heat producing sunlight you let in depending on the time of day makes these window treatments a good option for improving energy efficiency on sunny Minnesota days.

  • Shades—Shades are another option for Minneapolis window covering. The wide range of materials available make it possible to cut down on the sunlight that's let in without blocking it altogether, though you'll certainly find these window treatments aren't as flexible, or effective, as blinds or shutters for homeowners who are opposed to a darker overall home (they are called "shades" for a reason, after all).

  • Shutters—Interior window shutters haven't caught on in the Midwest like they have back East or down South, but they're a very effective way to block out sunlight that raises your interior temps and, consequently, your energy bills. Your best bet is to look into louvered varieties, since they give you the same flexibility as blinds when it comes to adjusting the amount of light let in based on how much direct sunlight is hitting your windows. It also pays to mention, interior shutters look great, too.

    Where to Find Minneapolis Window Covering
    If you're a DIYer, it's easy to find a department store or other retailer where you can purchase window treatments to hang on your own. It pays to at least consider talking to a contractor who specializes in window coverings, however. They'll be able to customize window treatments to meet the particular needs of your home, allowing you to optimize the energy saving results you're shooting for.

    Matt Goering, formerly a carpenter and house painter, is a freelance writer for the home improvement industry who has published over 600 articles.

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