| Ecologically minded homeowners can use roller | | | | some privacy, but do not eliminate the view as |
| shades as part of their living green lifestyle. A | | | | the other two styles do. |
| natural, eco-friendly lifestyle includes enjoyment of | | | | All the window shades can fit inside the window |
| the outdoors, so these homeowners want | | | | frame or outside it, depending on how much light |
| window treatments that serve a double purpose. | | | | control the homeowner desires, and what fits |
| They want to enjoy their outdoor vistas, and at | | | | best with room decor. All have a steel headrail |
| the same time use items in the home that are | | | | system for valence and to hide the workings of |
| ecologically friendly and energy conserving. This is | | | | the shade. Slats generally are two inches deep, |
| where roller shades can fit right into the | | | | although some are only one inch deep. For deep |
| environmental plan. | | | | window frames, mounting inside the frame is |
| Window treatments, available in a great many | | | | recommended. Slats are very thin, about an |
| styles, including those we are discussing here, can | | | | eighth inch thick. They can close tightly and |
| help control light and heat from entering or exiting | | | | provide insulation and full light control when closed. |
| a room. There are three main types of | | | | The ecologically minded homeowners can use |
| environmentally friendly blackout or sleep window | | | | roller shades to save money and cut electrical bills. |
| shades, light filtering roller shades, and solar | | | | Adjusting the slats to allow bounce lighting is one |
| window shades. These can be functional or | | | | way to multiply the amount of light entering a |
| decorative, or both. | | | | room. You can set the slats to reflect light either |
| Blackout, or sleep window shades are made of | | | | up against the wall or down on the flooring. Light |
| thicker fabric or vinyl coated materials or they | | | | colored ceilings multiply the light, sending rays |
| are made of wood. Wood roller shades offer the | | | | around the rest of the room. This means you do |
| greatest insulation and moisture control, and cost | | | | not have to run electrical lighting as much during |
| the most. The lightweight vinyl coated fabric | | | | the darker hours of the day. |
| window shades that are dark are also used for | | | | Using roller shades to keep hot sunlight out of a |
| blackout window shades. The roller shades can be | | | | room can reduce air conditioning costs. Direct |
| adjusted to allow any amount of light into a room, | | | | sunrays can heat up a room to over 100 degrees |
| or to fully darken the room for sleeping. They are | | | | Fahrenheit, and actually can be used for passive |
| great for night shift workers, the elderly, and | | | | heat in the winter, which is good. That is a time |
| children, who all need to have darkened rooms for | | | | to have the window shades up and let that |
| better sleep conditions. | | | | sunshine into the room. But, in summer heat, |
| The light filtering roller shades are translucent, | | | | keep rooms cooler with your roller shades down. |
| allowing light into a room, and many are very light | | | | The modern roller shades have advanced |
| colored or decorator fabrics. These provide | | | | technology for the mechanisms used to raise and |
| privacy and light control, but do not darken the | | | | lower the window shades, so the homeowner |
| room. They fit well into many decorator schemes, | | | | does have better control for setting the level of |
| and make rooms look lighter and friendlier. | | | | the window shades, and it is easier to use. Some |
| Solar window shades are precision screen window | | | | heavier wood roller shades even have |
| shades, which are light controlling, yet you can see | | | | motorization lift systems. All around, using roller |
| the outdoors view through them, as with regular | | | | shades fits right into an ecologically minded |
| screening materials. They cut glare, and give | | | | lifestyle very nicely. |