5 Ways in Which Blackout Curtains are a Sustainable Solution

I am a big fan of David Attenborough and as much as I enjoy watching Planet Earth with my kids, I can't help the sense of dread that fills me when I think about what's happening to our planet.

It's no secret that the average carbon footprint of each person has increased dramatically over the last 5 years.  I shudder to think of what our world will look like in a few decades.

But I am also a believer in the power of small changes by a LOT of people.  

One of my favorite quotes by economist & philosopher Edmund Burke is "No-one made a greater mistaken than he who does nothing when he can only do a little".  It epitomizes exactly how I feel about climate change and our role (as humans) in it. 

One of the ways in which I try to do my part in reducing my carbon footprint is by buying products that are not only themselves sustainable but also promotes sustainability for the rest of my home.

Hand made, sustainably sourced blackout curtains are a perfect example of a product that can reduce your carbon footprint in many ways.

I can tell you're not convinced.

May I ask that you humor me while I answer the following question...

How are S&W Blackout Curtains sustainable?

1. Blackout Curtains Regulate Temperature from Window Drafts

The thick and tightly woven texture of thermal insulated curtains regulate the room’s temperature from window drafts by absorbing the outside temperature. It reduces air conditioning and heating costs by maintaining a normal temperature in the room. They reduce the amount of heat lost in winters and cool air lost in the summer. Thermal insulated blackout curtains are a total game changer, specially for cold countries like Canada and Northern US, this can considerably help in keeping the home warm.  The thick texture of the thermal blackout curtains insulates the house and keeps it warm by not letting the heat escape. This in turn increases energy efficiency and reduces your carbon footprint.

 

2. Blackout curtains block light

As the name suggests the blackout curtains create a pitch-dark room by keeping out most of the sunlight. Light is a source of energy and warmth - it follows that letting light in will warm up your house.  This will happen quite quickly as I can attest to with my kids bedroom that faces in the sun in the morning.  It only takes a couple of hours for the room to warm up to 80 F. Did you know that in the summer months, keeping your curtains closed can save up to 50% of cooling costs?  

 

3. Blackout curtains promote Healthier Sleep

I don't know about you, but I loathe daylight savings time.  Even though I like my nights dark and my mornings bright, I am not a big fan of the 5 am sunrise that occurs in the summer.  Blackout curtains are great for this as it tricks your brain into thinking it's still nighttime so you can continue sleeping and get your full 7 hours!

Many also have trouble sleeping at night because of the light entering the room. The blackout curtains are the answer to reduce the outside stimulus that is keeping your awake. These curtains do not let any light enter and allow you to sleep at any hour of the day or night. It creates a cozy effect which allows for deeper and better sleep. 

If you're a napper, shift worker or if you're new parents, blackout curtains can be a lifesaver in promoting sleep at odd times.  

4. Blackout Curtains protects your indoor furnishings

The one point I want to emphasize about blackout curtains is their protective effect on your home furnishings.  The sun is a powerful force whose effects on fabric and furniture are subtle but over time can amount to completely faded upholstery, yellowed fabric and discoloration.  I once worked with a furniture retailer who had huge windows in her shop, which she thought would be a great way to let natural sunlight in to light her shop. Over time, she found that one particular part of a sectional started to look faded.  It was a natural experiment as the location of the sectional in the store made it such that half of it was exposed to direct sunlight and the other half shaded.  The difference in the depth of color in the fabric was startling.  Luckily, she knew someone who could equip her with blackout window coverings!

 5. S&W curtains are hand-made, locally

Sustainable can mean many things and can be achieved in many different ways.  When we purchase mass marketed products, we are incurring all the pollution that comes from factories, the emissions from moving the product, the additional packaging used and the cost of buying products that last one season  before they end up in the garbage.  Curtains are like furniture and are meant to last.  I encourage you to invest in ones that are long lasting, protective, and made well.

 

Blackout curtains don't have to be grommets only

One last revelation before I leave you.  Blackout curtains, for the most part, have been used for practical purposes rather than decorative ones and as such have typically been offered as grommet curtains only.

At Spin & Weave, we have made it possible to have pinch pleat blackout curtains, rod pocket blackout curtains as well as the grommet blackout curtains in a variety of grommet colors!!  Check out our best selling extra wide blackout curtains collection available in any length or size!

Today’s world is all about sustainability and steps to save the environment. Where does a good intention begin from? Your home! Bringing small changes like installing extra wide curtains and blackout curtains play a vital role in doing our part for the world.  More than that, buying local, hand-made and long lasting products help keep our world sustainable economically and reduces waste.

Let us know the ways in which home textiles has helped you be more sustainable in your home!  Find us on Instagram @spinandweave.ca