Skylight Blinds: 5 Ideas to Save Money in the Winter
As winter approaches and temperatures drop, UK homeowners will see their heating bills skyrocket. Conservatories and rooms with skylights swing between solar saunas in the day and frigid stargazing spots at night. A roof skylight, while excellent for allowing natural light into a space, can also be a major source of heat loss during colder months. The good news? Installing skylight blinds can significantly reduce heat loss, improve energy efficiency, and keep your home comfortable without sacrificing style.
In this article, we'll explore
Five roof blind design ideas that can help save money in the winter
The science of energy efficiency
Frequently asked questions to help you make the most of your roof windows
Let's get started by looking at how blinds impact the efficiency of your home with skylight blinds.
Why Blinds are Essential for Winter Energy Efficiency
Before we explore design ideas, it's crucial to understand the impact of windows on your home's energy efficiency during winter. Skylights are notorious for allowing heat to escape, even if they are double-glazed. In fact, energy efficiency research shows that they can lose 35-45% more heat in winter compared to other areas of the house, especially if they aren't fitted with energy-efficient solutions like roller blinds.
The Science Behind Heat Loss
Heat loss through skylights is primarily due to convection, where warm air rises and escapes through the glass. Even a modern, double-glazed skylight window with low U-values (as low as 1.2 W/m²K) can still allow significant heat to escape if not properly insulated. Installing a high-performance blind adds an extra layer of insulation to velux windows, helping to reduce heat loss by up to 74%. This can translate to a reduction in energy bills of up to 20%.
How Blinds Save Money
By reducing heat loss, roof blinds help maintain a consistent indoor temperature. In winter, this means less reliance on heating systems, which in turn reduces energy consumption and costs. Blinds with thermal or blackout fabrics, like those in the Eliminate® series, are especially effective at insulating skylights, keeping the warmth in and the cold out.
Design Idea 1: Large Lantern Ceiling Conservatory – Eliminate® CT Skylight Blinds
For homeowners with large conservatories or lantern ceilings, the Eliminate® CT Skylight Blind is an ideal solution. Conservatories often suffer from significant heat loss due to their vast glass surfaces, but motorised blinds can help manage temperature effectively.
Benefits of Motorised Blinds in Conservatories
Full Coverage: The Eliminate® CT blinds are designed to cover large skylights seamlessly, ensuring no gaps where heat can escape.
Energy Efficiency: The thermal fabrics used in the Eliminate® series provide excellent insulation, reducing the need for additional heating in the space.
Convenience: Motorised options allow homeowners to control blinds remotely, closing them during the coldest parts of the day to retain heat.
By installing these blinds, you can maintain a comfortable temperature in your conservatory throughout winter while also reducing energy costs.
Design Idea 2: Blackout Blinds for Loft Bedrooms or Nurseries
Loft conversions, especially those used as bedrooms or nurseries, can lose significant heat through skylights. Adding blackout roller blinds, like those in the Eliminate® range, is an excellent way to increase insulation while providing other benefits like light control.
Why Blackout Blinds Are Perfect for Lofts
Heat Retention: Blackout fabrics block cold air and keep warmth inside, which is essential for loft spaces where heat naturally rises.
Light Control: In nurseries or bedrooms, blackout blinds also ensure a peaceful environment, blocking out daylight for better sleep.
Tailored Fit: The Eliminate® series offers bespoke designs that fit perfectly into any skylight, ensuring maximum coverage with no gaps.
Blackout skylight blinds are a practical and stylish solution for loft spaces, offering both comfort and energy savings.
Design Idea 3: Living Room Skylights with Thermal Fabrics
Skylights in living rooms can create beautiful, bright spaces but also contribute to heat loss. Adding blinds with thermal fabrics can help keep living areas warm during winter without compromising on style.
The Role of Thermal Fabrics
Insulation: Thermal fabrics in blinds trap heat inside the home, preventing it from escaping through the glass.
Energy Efficiency: By reducing the need for extra heating, thermal blinds can lower your energy bills, making them a cost-effective investment.
Custom Designs: The Eliminate® series allows for custom sizing and fabric options, so you can match your blinds to your décor while enhancing energy efficiency.
For living spaces, thermal fabric blinds strike the perfect balance between function and aesthetics, ensuring your home stays warm and cosy during the winter months.
Design Idea 4: Compact Skylight Blinds for Hallways or Kitchens
Smaller skylights in areas like hallways or kitchens can still contribute to heat loss, but custom-fitted skylight blinds from the Eliminate® series can make a significant difference. These blinds are designed to fit snugly into smaller skylight openings, providing the same benefits of insulation and light control as larger versions.
Why Compact Blinds Work
Heat Retention: Even small skylights can let in cold air, but adding blinds helps trap warmth inside.
Light Control: In kitchens and hallways, blinds allow you to manage natural light while preventing heat from escaping.
Tailored Fit: The bespoke design ensures that every skylight is covered, regardless of size.
Compact blinds are a practical and stylish addition to any home, helping to improve energy efficiency even in smaller spaces.
Design Idea 5: Skylight Blinds for Orangeries and Roof Lanterns
Orangeries and skylight roof lanterns are stunning architectural features, but they can also be a source of heat loss in the winter. The Eliminate® roof window blinds are the perfect solution for these spaces, offering both insulation and aesthetic appeal.
Features of Blinds for Orangeries
Heat Insulation: With thermal fabrics and precise fits, these blinds reduce heat loss through large glass surfaces.
Light Control: You can adjust the blinds to control the amount of natural light entering the space, making it more comfortable year-round.
Motorized Convenience: Like other Eliminate® products, these blinds can be motorised for easy use, allowing you to close them during colder times of the day.
With blinds in place, you can enjoy your orangery or flat roof skylight even during the coldest months, without worrying about excessive heating bills.
The Benefits of Automation and Smart Home Integration for Skylight Blinds
One of the most innovative ways to enhance the efficiency of roof skylight blinds is through automation and smart home integration. Electric skylight blinds, like those in the Eliminate® series, can be programmed to open and close automatically based on preset conditions, such as time of day, sunlight levels, or temperature. This automation is particularly beneficial in winter when it’s essential to capture and retain as much heat as possible.
How Automated Blinds Work
By connecting your blinds to a smart home system, you can schedule them to open during the day to let natural light and solar heat warm your home, and close them at night to trap that heat inside. This process is seamless with motorised blinds, which can be controlled via remote, app, or voice commands, allowing for effortless operation.
Morning Solar Gain: In the winter, scheduling the blinds to open at sunrise allows your home to capture as much sunlight and heat as possible throughout the day. This passive solar heating can help reduce the amount of energy needed to warm your home.
Night-time Insulation: As the temperature drops in the evening, the blinds can automatically close to retain heat, ensuring your home remains comfortable without overburdening your heating system.
Enhanced Energy Savings with Thermal Blinds
This smart scheduling is especially effective when paired with thermal blinds. The Eliminate® thermal blinds not only reduce heat loss but also enhance the energy savings achieved through automation. With thermal fabrics that block out cold air, your home remains insulated during the night, while the blinds' automatic opening during the day helps keep rooms warmer for longer without the need for additional heating.
Integration with Smart Home Systems
Most modern motorised blinds, including those in the Eliminate® range, can be integrated with popular smart home systems such as Somfy TaHoma, Google Home, or Amazon Alexa. This enables complete control over your blinds from anywhere, whether you’re at home or away. In addition to scheduling, smart home systems can adjust the blinds based on real-time conditions, such as closing them if it gets too cold or opening them to let in more sunlight.
The Future of Energy Efficiency
Automating your skylight windows is a forward-thinking solution that not only enhances comfort but also boosts energy efficiency. As energy costs continue to rise, using smart home technology to optimise how you manage heat gain and loss through your skylights is a smart investment that will pay off in the long run.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Can you get blinds for skylights?
Yes, blinds are available in a variety of styles and materials, including blackout and thermal fabrics. The Eliminate® series offers custom-fitted blinds for all types of skylights.
Are skylight blinds worth it?
Absolutely. Blinds help reduce heat loss, improve energy efficiency, and allow for better light control. In the winter, they can help save on heating costs by insulating your home.
Do skylight blinds reduce heat?
Yes, blinds with thermal or blackout fabrics significantly reduce heat loss through skylights, keeping your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
What is the most typical skylight problem?
The most common problem with skylights is heat loss, particularly in winter. Without proper insulation, skylights can let warm air escape, leading to higher energy bills.
Should I cover skylights in winter?
Yes, covering skylights with blinds in winter helps to insulate your home and prevent heat from escaping. It’s a simple way to reduce energy consumption and save money on heating.
How much heat is lost through a skylight?
Skylights can lose 35-45% more heat compared to other areas of the house. Adding blinds can reduce this heat loss significantly.
How do I keep a room cool with skylights?
In summer, blinds can help keep a room cool by blocking out excess sunlight and UV rays. This prevents the space from overheating while maintaining natural light control.
Conclusion: Stay Warm and Save Money with Eliminate® Skylight Blinds
By adding Eliminate® skylight blinds to your home, you can significantly reduce heat loss, improve energy efficiency, and lower your energy bills during winter. With options for every space—from large conservatories to small kitchen skylights—these blinds offer both practicality and style.
If you're ready to enhance your home's energy efficiency with bespoke blinds, contact James Robertshaw today for a consultation.
