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What is ‘R-Value?’

What is ‘R-Value?’

If you have ever shopped for insulation, windows or doors, you may have heard the term ‘R-value.’  Did you know that your window treatments also have an R-value?

The term ‘R-value’ refers to the measurement of a structure’s ability to resist heat flow.  So, the R-value measures the product’s ability to insulate against heat loss.

On average, a well-built home will have an R-value of 25 at its walls and roof structure.  The windows, on the other hand, have an R-value of just 3.5.  The higher the R-value number, the better the product insulates.  Even good windows insulate 7 times less than a well-insulated wall.

R-value

Illustration courtesy Hunter Douglas

Adding window treatments to these “energy holes,” (a.k.a. windows), can truly help insulate your home against the cold.  They also help to insulate your cooler home against the hot outside air in the summer.  Heat moves toward cooler air, and windows are not very efficient at keeping heat where it needs to be.  In fact, as much as 50% of the heat loss (or gain in the summer) in an average home happens at the window!  The very best-insulating shades, honeycombs or cellular shades, will double the R-value of the average window, cutting heat loss in half!  The window could go from an R-value of 3.5 to around 7.  This translates to energy savings for you, and a more comfortable room for anyone inside.

Keep in mind:  the higher the R-value, the better it insulates.  Armed with this simple knowledge, you can shop for home improvement products and window coverings with more confidence.

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2 Responses to What is ‘R-Value?’

  1. […] insulating the room from the hot summer air and the cold winter winds.  In fact, the “R-value” (a measurement of the resistance of the shade to transfer heat) can increase from 3.5 (the […]

  2. […] window, insulating the room from the hot summer air and the cold winter winds.  In fact, the “R-value” (a measurement of the resistance of the shade to transfer heat) can increase from 3.5 (the […]

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