Curtains vs. Solar screens

I live in southern louisiana where it's broiling hot much of the year, and I have some large south-facing windows which let in a lot of heat and make me run the A/C constantly.
To cut back on energy usage, I'm trying to decide between installing some of the Phifer Suntex solar screens, which claim to block 80%-90% of the heat from the sun, vs. the more traditional route of just putting up some dark curtains.
The advantage of the curtains would be that they are retractable, so on occasions when I want to let light in, I could do so... while the solar screens mount on the exterior of the house and are bolted in, so they're more or less a permanent installation that can't be easily removed, making my house much darker all the time, and partially defeating the energy saving purpose by making me turn on the lights during the day.
On the other hand, the solar screens mount on the OUTSIDE of the window, so they definitely block the sun's rays BEFORE they get into the house... while curtains are on the inside, so it kind of stands to reason to me that they are going to let a lot more heat in? (I don't know a lot about physics, but it just seems like anything mounted interior to the house is gonna let a lot of heat inside?)
Anyway, I'd appreciate some input/opinions from more knowledgable folks, regarding the relative energy savings of interior dark curtains vs. exterior solar screens.

wrote in message

Anyway, I'd appreciate some input/opinions from more knowledgable folks, regarding the relative energy savings of interior dark curtains vs. exterior solar screens.

Have you thought of a combination of reflective window film and curtains?
Vaughn
>

"Vaughn Simon" wrote in message

lambeth65@earthlink.net> wrote in message
Anyway, I'd appreciate some input/opinions from more knowledgable folks, regarding the relative energy savings of interior dark curtains vs. exterior solar screens.
Have you thought of a combination of reflective window film and curtains?
Vaughn


Awnings.

a properly sized awning will keep the direct summer sun out while allowing the winter sun to shine in and warm the house.

lambeth65@earthlink.net wrote:

I live in southern louisiana where it's broiling hot much of the year, and I have some large south-facing windows which let in a lot of heat and make me run the A/C constantly.
To cut back on energy usage, I'm trying to decide between installing some of the Phifer Suntex solar screens, which claim to block 80%-90% of the heat from the sun, vs. the more traditional route of just putting up some dark curtains.

I used to live in Southern Louisianna (and loved it) and I discovered there was a rather effective traditional technology to deal with this problem: shutters. The ones with louvres which can be raised or lowered. And the shutters themselves, being exterior mounted, can be opened or closed. And they look so GOOD!
In addition, the floor-to-ceiling glazed windows used to open inwards, so that air could circulate through the closed shutter louvres while keeping the direct sunlight out, the rooms used to mostly lead directly off one another in a "shotgun" arrangement for a through draught, and the ceilings were high.
How we used to survive with grace before they invented air conditioning.
brian mitchell

As the others have said, there are better options
-Mediterranean style shutters would be my number one choice, they block the heat from outside, before it can get inot the house, whilst having sections that can be slightly opened for air circulation and light -awnings are great because they will stop any direct sunlight from hitting the glazing, however if they are joined to the wall without a ventilation gap they can be stuffy, and in windy climates are prone to breaking -double curtains with a backing (the side that sees the sun) of a very pale couloured uv resistant material.
I live in a west facing appartement in Southern France, and by closing my shutters when the sun hits the windows, and opening everything when the sun has gone, I have comfortable night time temperatures all summer long. Having moved about a year ago, I have been able to feel the diffrence between interior curtains and exterior blinds - there is no contest, get the shutters, or at the very least, the awning!




lambeth65@earthlink.net a �crit :

I live in southern louisiana where it's broiling hot much of the year, and I have some large south-facing windows which let in a lot of heat and make me run the A/C constantly.
To cut back on energy usage, I'm trying to decide between installing some of the Phifer Suntex solar screens, which claim to block 80%-90% of the heat from the sun, vs. the more traditional route of just putting up some dark curtains.
The advantage of the curtains would be that they are retractable, so on occasions when I want to let light in, I could do so... while the solar screens mount on the exterior of the house and are bolted in, so they're more or less a permanent installation that can't be easily removed, making my house much darker all the time, and partially defeating the energy saving purpose by making me turn on the lights during the day.
On the other hand, the solar screens mount on the OUTSIDE of the window, so they definitely block the sun's rays BEFORE they get into the house... while curtains are on the inside, so it kind of stands to reason to me that they are going to let a lot more heat in? (I don't know a lot about physics, but it just seems like anything mounted interior to the house is gonna let a lot of heat inside?)
Anyway, I'd appreciate some input/opinions from more knowledgable folks, regarding the relative energy savings of interior dark curtains vs. exterior solar screens.

"Mel" wrote in message

-awnings are great because they will stop any direct sunlight from hitting the glazing,... and in windy climates are prone to breaking

In windy weather you put the awnings down and they double as storm shutters! A very valuable thing here in south Florida.
In simpler times, I used to simply prop up my awnings with a stick. When the thunderstorms struck, they whould blow up slightly, the stick would fall out, and the shutters would bang shut, where aerodynamics and gravity seemed to serve to keep them down against the house. For a real blow, you simply insert hold-down screws.