Plantation shutters are renowned for their energy efficiency, making them great for keeping interiors warm and cosy in winter. The natural thermal efficiency of the materials helps lock warmth indoors, while keeping cold air at bay.
But what’s often overlooked is the extent to which plantation shutters can also be great for keeping your home cool and comfortable in the summer. Far more effective than conventional curtains or blinds, plantation shutters can be just the thing for escaping the overbearing heat of the summer sun.
The extent to which your shutters will contribute to comfortable interiors will be determined by a number of factors. Examples of which include the materials they are made from, how precisely they were installed and their general configuration.
Even so, plantation shutters offer a number of benefits that exceed the capabilities of conventional window coverings during the hottest months of the year.
Here’s how the benefits of plantation shutters could help keep your interiors cool this summer:
Table of Contents
1. An Effective Thermal Barrier
As touched upon above, shutters can be surprisingly effective in creating a barrier between the indoors and the outdoors. Warm air outdoors can be kept at bay, while cooler indoor air is retained – far more effectively than with conventional curtains or blinds. Plantation shutters can be opened at night to let cool air circulate, before being closed again the next day to keep things cool and comfortable.
2. Reflection of Sunlight
Plantation shutters, particularly those finished in brighter colours and with glossy surfaces, can be fantastic for reflecting the rays of the sun. This can make a huge difference to interior comfort during the summer, where direct sunlight through even a single window can leave the whole place feeling like a greenhouse. If direct sunlight is an issue with any of your home’s windows, upgrading to plantation window shutters could make all the difference.
3. Improved Privacy
In the full heat of the summer sun, there is often no option but to keep your windows open whenever possible. This is something that can lead to privacy issues, where windows face out over public paths, roads and so on. With plantation shutters, the louvres can be adjusted with pinpoint precision in order to allow fresh air to circulate while still maintaining total privacy indoors; something that is not typically possible with conventional curtains or blinds, and can be a godsend in the warmer months of the year.
4. Lower AC Bills
Adding plantation shutters to your home could dramatically reduce your reliance on conventional air conditioning. With energy prices at record highs (and with further hikes on the cards), there has never been a more important time to cut back on energy use at home. With plantation shutters, the cool air emitted by your AC system will be retained much longer. Rather than running your AC throughout the day at a huge cost, a few quick bursts on occasion could be all it takes to keep your interiors cool.
For more information on any of the above or to discuss your requirements in more detail, contact a member of the team at Riverside Shutters today.