Designing With Carol

Carol Collins, WFCP, Expert

Window Coverings Association of American recently posted, “Most consumers don’t know the benefits that eco-friendly window treatments can introduce to your home. In addition to beautiful design, window treatments that aim for reduced energy consumption can also lead to greater savings.

“Without energy-efficient treatments, as much as 50 percent of heating and cooling costs are lost through windows according to Hunter Douglas. When we begin to think not only in terms of energy savings, but also in the financial cost of bearing uncovered windows, eco-friendly design becomes the obvious choice.”

I have asked myself, am I using products that are earth friendly and sustainable? What am I doing to reuse, reduce and recycle? More importantly, what am I doing to redecorate with sustainability in mind?

The World Commission on Environment and Development defines sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” How then do we meet our own needs without compromising the ability of our children and our children’s children, to meet their needs? In our day-to-day lives we can follow the reduce, reuse, recycle guidelines. In the world of design there are many options as well, most often presenting themselves by way of the manufacturers’ materials and processes. Increasingly companies of all shapes and sizes, from an array of industries, are becoming aware of the need for sustainable business practices.

Here’s how we can help.

Address Heating and Air-conditioning concerns with simple design-related products: Blackout linings, draperies and solar shades can block incoming solar radiation to keep air-conditioning costs down. On the flipside, they can prevent heat from escaping, which in turn can keep heating costs down. Hunter Douglas has taken a step to reduce energy loss by the introduction of the patented Duette Architella Honeycomb Shade that provides a high level of energy efficiency with its innovative honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb design, reducing energy loss up to 40% at the window. The newest revolution in window fashions, Duette Architella Trielle™, delivers 20% more energy efficiency than original Architella shades.

While eco-friendly design is not a new concept, its introduction into the U.S. interior design market, specifically the window-fashions market, has only begun to take hold. More and more companies are introducing green window treatment alternatives, improving production processes to reduce waste and conserve energy and providing customers with the education and knowledge they need to make responsible choices.

As a decorator I have committed to reduce, reclaim and recycle as often as possible and to find and use as many sustainable fabrics and products as I can find. I hope that you too will help me in this effort to make our community a better place for our children and grandchildren. Please decorate with this in mind!

Happy Decorating!