The R is for Residential

Did you know that there are products and ideas that can both cool in summer and add warmth to your home in winter? It is really about heat transfer. If you can stop the heat from intruding in the summer and escaping in the winter you can save hundreds, even thousands of dollars off your heating and cooling bills.    With any budget you can make some beautiful changes that will save you cash every day. Things like insulated window coverings, and exteriors awnings are two of the most noticeable.     Awnings can be set to protect your home from the direct rays of the sun in summer and allow the sunlight to come in during the winter to help heat your home with FREE passive solar energy. Fabrics now come in as many colors and patterns as there are stars in the sky or so it seems. Awnings can also add a decorative element to your home. It's sort of curtains for the outside, if you will. With new marine grade nylon and synthetic thread, awnings can easily last your lifetime. If you get tired of looking at the same old style, the covers can be changed and the hardware reused saving you even more the second time around. What you probably don't realize is that you can have a beautiful custom made window awning for as little as $250.    Like awnings insulated curtains help keep the sun out in the summer, but can be opened in the winter to let the sun help heat your home for FREEEEE! One simple act can also save you those hundreds of dollars you need for yourself. In summer close your insulated curtains during the day and in winter close them at night. That simple and you will save a lot of money. Now not to diss big box stores but I am talking about real lined and interlined custom draperies that blanket your windows. Not the cheap rubber lined production stuff you can get at your local big W.  ARM Interiors has the skill and experience to measure and create custom insulated draperies for you.    A third way insulated heavy drapes help is to close them during the day and then just look around for any source of light coming through gaps and cracks around windows, doors, dryer vents etc. Sealing those cracks will also save you a lot of money and some caulk and a caulk gun is about ten dollars at any hardware or box store.    Here are some facts. Most of a home’s heat loss is through windows and doors. Most of a home’s passive heat gain is through windows and doors. Contact us for a free printout of some of the active ways you can control the climate in your home at no additional cost. DON'T believe the power company to help you use less of their product!