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An Ideal Home report describes closing curtains shortly before sunset as a no-cost way to slow heat loss through windows and potentially reduce evening heating use. Its writer measured temperature differences of up to 2°C around thermal window coverings, but the report does not establish a precise energy or bill saving.
An Ideal Home report says closing curtains shortly before sunset may help retain heat and reduce the need for extra evening heating, though the effect depends on the home’s windows, insulation and coverings. The writer measured a 2°C temperature difference in front of and behind thermal curtains after sunset, but the observation does not quantify energy or bill savings.
The report’s writer said they had resumed closing curtains early and found the home felt warmer for longer in the evening. The suggested mechanism is that curtains add a layer between a room and its windows, which can be a source of heat loss. If a room stays more comfortable, occupants may be less likely to extend central heating or use a portable heater, although the report does not measure whether that happened or how much energy it might save.
In the writer’s home, the temperature difference around thermal curtains and blinds was about 2°C. The report gives smaller differences for other coverings: just under 1°C around wooden blinds and about 0.5°C around standard curtains. These are observations from one home, not results from a controlled test, and they describe temperatures on either side of the coverings rather than a verified change in whole-room temperature or heating consumption.
The report recommends closing curtains just before sunset, rather than waiting until later in the evening, so daylight can enter during the day and coverings can be drawn as outdoor temperatures fall. The timing will vary by location and season. It also notes that scheduled curtain devices can automate the task, but gives no evidence that buying one is necessary or that its cost would be recovered through energy savings.
How Curtains May Reduce Evening Heat Loss
For households trying to manage heating use during colder months, drawing existing curtains is a no-cost habit that may make a room feel warmer without changing the thermostat. Its practical appeal is that it does not require new equipment, though any reduction in heating demand will vary and is not guaranteed.
The findings also point to the role of the window covering itself. The writer reported a larger temperature difference around thermal curtains and blinds than around standard curtains or fabric blinds. That suggests people should not assume every curtain provides the same insulation. The report offers no formal comparison of product performance, however, and it does not establish that replacing curtains would pay for itself.
Readers should treat the measurements as a personal observation, not a forecast of savings. The article gives no energy-use data, bill comparison or controlled test. It supports the limited conclusion that curtains can act as an additional barrier at windows, while leaving the size of any household saving unknown.
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The Report’s Home Temperature Checks
The report was published as evenings grew darker and temperatures fell, when households often look for ways to limit heating use. It cites energy-price changes and forecasts in its introduction, but those figures are not needed to establish whether curtains retain heat, and they do not prove that this particular habit will reduce bills.
The article also attributes general guidance to Stuart Middleton, identified as So Energy’s consumer energy expert. Middleton said that windows can be a source of heat loss and that curtains create an additional insulating layer. He said thick, well-fitting or thermally lined curtains can be particularly effective, while the potential saving depends on the windows, curtains and the home’s insulation.
The report’s temperature readings came from the writer’s own home, which had a mix of thermal curtains, blinds and standard curtains. No measurement method, instrument accuracy or repeated-test results are provided. The readings therefore illustrate what the writer experienced, rather than proving a typical result for other homes.
“Windows can be a source of heat loss, so drawing your curtains creates an additional layer of insulation that helps slow the rate at which heat escapes.”
— Stuart Middleton, So Energy’s consumer energy expert, as quoted by Ideal Home
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Savings and Test Limits Remain Unknown
The report does not state how many kilowatt-hours of energy, or how much money, closing curtains saved. It contains no before-and-after utility data and no controlled comparison with curtains left open. The 2°C reading is a difference measured in front of and behind thermal coverings in one home; the article does not show that the whole room became 2°C warmer.
It is also unclear how the readings were taken, how long conditions were observed, or whether outdoor temperature, heating settings and other factors were controlled. The report’s author says the rooms felt warmer and describes the readings as personal experience, but those accounts cannot establish results for other homes. Any effect will depend on the condition of the windows, curtain fit and fabric, insulation, room layout and household heating habits.
The report does not independently verify the cited energy-price forecast or connect it to a measurable impact from curtain use. It also does not compare the purchase cost of automated devices or upgraded curtains with possible bill reductions.
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A Low-Cost Habit to Test at Home
Households can try closing their existing curtains shortly before local sunset and see whether rooms remain comfortable for longer. The report advises checking sunset time as it changes through the season. Its findings do not support a promised bill reduction, so readers should not treat the habit as a substitute for assessing their home’s broader heating needs.
People considering thermal curtains or automation would need to weigh the upfront cost against their own circumstances; Ideal Home does not provide a payback estimate. Further evidence, such as a controlled test across different homes with heating-use and temperature data, would be needed to estimate typical energy savings. Until then, the reported benefit is a possible improvement in comfort and reduced heat loss, with the size of any energy saving unresolved.
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Key Questions
Does closing curtains before sunset save energy?
It may help slow heat loss through windows and could reduce the need for extra heating, according to the Ideal Home report. The report does not measure a specific energy saving, so the amount is unknown.
When should I close my curtains?
The report suggests closing them shortly before sunset. That timing allows daylight into the home during the day before the curtains are drawn as outdoor temperatures fall.
Which window coverings performed best in the report?
The writer observed the largest temperature difference—about 2°C—in front of and behind thermal curtains and blinds. The smaller differences reported for other coverings came from one home and are not a controlled product comparison.
Can the report say how much money I will save?
No. It provides no measured energy use, bill comparison or general savings figure. The result depends on the home’s windows, coverings, insulation and heating use.
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