How and Why to Paint Your Window Blinds
How to Paint Your Window Blinds for Power Conservation
Don Ames
The side of your home that faces the mid-day sun has a big job adjusting to the differences in sunlight and temperature. The more we do to organize and support the air barrier the better. It’s kind of like being in the corner of a fighter and splashing some water on him between rounds. Preparing him for the next go around. Let’s consider the windows and more specifically, the window blinds.
One of the best things you can do to combat summer heat gain through the windows is to install a window blind on the outside of the window. This blind blocks the suns rays from striking the window and reduces the transfer of heat through the window. In the winter, the sun may help as it shines through the window and warms the house. Put the blind up in summer and then put it in the garage for the winter.
At a home the other day, I asked the homeowner why they had covered up the west side window with tin foil. I actually assumed that someone might work the night shift and the tin foil was used to darken the room for daytime sleeping. The homeowner explained that the room was his young sons bedroom and the tin foil was used to keep the room cooler. The bedroom faced west and the afternoon sun warmed the room up beyond the comfortable sleeping temperature. Tin foil was a quick, inexpensive solution.
Have you ever seen a salt and pepper blind? Have you ever taken a venetian blind apart? The most used and economical blind in use today is the venetian or horizontal slat blind. If you have horizontal slat blinds in your home consider this power saving procedure.
1. Remove the blind from the window and lay it down on a flat surface. Take the plug or attachment loose from the bottom heavier slat and pull the cord, that raises the blind, up and out of all the slats.
2. Pull the slats sideways out from the separator strings.
3. Lay the slats on a flat table covered with newspaper.
4. Purchase a rattle can of black paint and paint one side of the slats black.
5. Install the slats back into the blind so the black side is facing all the same direction. Re-install the pull string and replace the blind in the window.
When you pull one horizontal string down, the blind is black. Pull the other string, the blind is white. On a sunny day when you want the sun to help warm the room, turn the black side to the sun. When you want to reflect some of the suns warmth, turn the white side to the sun.
Watching a scary movie for Halloween, turn the black side to the room.
P.S. tell your wife before completing this project, then come back soon to detect energy, but I won’t be leaving the light on for you…Don Ames