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An Ideal Home report says closing curtains just before sunset can reduce heat loss through windows and help rooms stay warmer. The writer measured temperature differences of up to 2°C across thermal curtains, but the report does not establish a precise energy or bill saving.
An Ideal Home report says closing curtains just before sunset may help homes retain heat and reduce reliance on heating, with the writer measuring a 2°C difference across thermal curtains in some rooms. The test was conducted in one home and does not quantify energy or bill savings, which the report says vary with the windows, curtains and insulation.
The report describes the practice as a no-cost household measure: drawing curtains creates another layer between a room and its windows, which can slow heat loss and block draughts. A warmer-feeling room may reduce the need to run central heating for an extra hour or use a portable heater for longer, although that effect was not measured in energy units.
The writer compared temperatures in front of and behind several window coverings after sunset. They reported a difference of up to 2°C for thermal curtains and blinds, just under 1°C for wooden blinds, and about 0.5°C for standard curtains and fabric blinds. These are observations from the writer’s home, not results from a controlled study, and the report does not provide instrument details or repeated-test data.
For timing, the report recommends closing curtains shortly before sunset, rather than leaving them open after daylight fades. The writer gives a local sunset time of 4:52 p.m. as an example and says they set a reminder for 4:30 p.m. That schedule is specific to their location and date; sunset times change by place and season.
How Curtain Choice Affects Heat
The practical value of the habit is that it may improve comfort without requiring a purchase or changes to a heating system. For households trying to manage energy use during colder months, keeping warmth in can be useful if it helps avoid unnecessary heating. But the report offers no verified bill reduction or estimate of how much energy an average home might save.
It also suggests that the window covering matters. Thermal or well-fitted curtains performed better in the writer’s comparison than standard curtains and fabric blinds. That does not prove the same temperature differences will occur elsewhere: window condition, drafts, room layout, heating, curtain fit and insulation can all affect results.
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The Report’s Home Test
The report was published as temperatures fell and nights grew longer. It notes that energy prices had risen by 4% in October and cites forecasts of further increases of 16% to 25% in January. Those figures are presented in the source article without further detail here about the tariff, forecast source or comparison period, so they should not be treated as a current price forecast.
So Energy consumer energy expert Stuart Middleton told Ideal Home that windows can be a source of heat loss and that drawing curtains adds insulation. He said thick, well-fitting or thermally lined curtains can be particularly effective, while the potential saving depends on the home and its windows. The report also describes automated curtain devices that can follow a schedule, but does not test their energy performance or establish whether their cost would be recovered through savings.
““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 consumer energy expert, as quoted by Ideal Home
Savings Have Not Been Measured
The reported temperature differences come from one home test. The article does not state whether readings were repeated under controlled conditions, how the temperatures were measured, or whether other variables changed. The figures therefore describe the writer’s observations rather than a general result for households.
It is also unclear how much, if any, energy or money the habit saved. The writer reports that their home felt warmer and that they did not need to run the heating for an extra hour, but provides no meter readings, heating-use comparison or bill data. The article does not establish that every home will benefit equally, particularly where windows are already well insulated or curtains do not fit closely.
A Practical Check at Home
Readers who want to try the habit can close curtains before local sunset and compare how comfortable rooms feel, while keeping heating use at a safe and suitable level. The report suggests using a phone reminder or a scheduled curtain device for households where nobody is home at that time. It does not provide a follow-up measurement or a date for a broader test.
Any conclusion about household savings would require more than a temperature comparison: energy use would need to be tracked across comparable conditions and over a stated period. For now, the supported takeaway is limited: closing curtains may slow heat loss, with the report’s writer observing the largest temperature difference behind thermal coverings, but the size of any energy saving remains unknown.
Key Questions
Does closing curtains before sunset save energy?
It may help reduce heat loss through windows, according to the Ideal Home report and So Energy expert Stuart Middleton. The report does not measure a specific energy or bill saving, so the effect for an individual home is unknown.
When should curtains be closed?
The report recommends closing them shortly before local sunset, so daylight can enter during the day and the curtains are drawn as it gets dark. Sunset time varies by location and date.
Which curtains kept warmth in best in the report?
In the writer’s home comparison, thermal curtains and blinds showed the largest reported temperature difference, up to 2°C. Wooden blinds showed just under 1°C, while standard curtains and fabric blinds showed about 0.5°C. These are not results from a controlled study.
Can the report say how much money the habit saves?
No. It gives no bill or energy-use comparison. The article says potential savings depend on the windows, curtain type and insulation of the home.
Source: rss
