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An Ideal Home report says closing curtains just before sunset can help reduce heat loss through windows and may reduce the need for extra heating. Its writer measured temperature differences of up to 2°C across thermal curtains, but the report does not establish a household energy-bill saving.
An Ideal Home report says closing curtains shortly before sunset may help homes retain heat by adding a barrier over windows, though the energy and bill savings have not been quantified. The writer reports measuring a 2°C temperature difference between the room and the space behind thermal curtains, but that observation does not show how much heating fuel or electricity a household would save.
The report’s writer says they resumed closing curtains early during colder evenings and found their home felt warmer for longer, reducing the need, in their experience, to run central heating for an additional hour. The account is a personal test, not a controlled study, and it does not include energy-meter readings or a comparison of heating costs.
Stuart Middleton, a consumer energy expert at So Energy, told Ideal Home that windows can be a source of heat loss and that curtains create an extra insulating layer. He said thick, well-fitting or thermally lined curtains can be particularly effective. The benefit varies with the home’s windows, curtains and insulation, he said, making a precise saving from the habit alone difficult to calculate.
The writer measured temperature differences after sunset in several locations: about 2°C across thermal curtains and blinds, just under 1°C across wooden blinds, and about half a degree across standard curtains. These figures describe measurements on either side of the window coverings in that home; they are not estimates of whole-room temperature changes or energy savings.
Curtains May Reduce Evening Heat Loss
Windows can let heat escape, so an additional layer may help a room stay comfortable for longer after daylight fades. If occupants feel less need to turn up heating or use a portable electric heater, the practice could reduce energy use. However, the report supplies no measured reduction in consumption or bills, and the effect will differ between properties.
The advice is a no-cost adjustment for people who already have curtains, but the measurements suggest the material and fit matter. Thermal curtains showed a larger temperature difference in the writer’s home than standard curtains. That does not establish that buying new curtains will pay for itself; the report gives no purchase-cost or payback calculation.
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Timing and Window Coverings
The report recommends drawing curtains just before sunset, rather than waiting until later in the evening. This is intended to retain warmth gathered during daylight while limiting heat loss as outdoor temperatures fall. Sunset time changes through the season and varies by location; the writer suggests checking a weather app and setting a reminder.
For people away from home at that time, the article describes curtain motors and schedules as possible ways to automate closing. It cites products including the SwitchBot Curtain 3, which Ideal Home’s digital editor said she scheduled to close at night. That is a product user’s account, not evidence that automation itself produces a particular energy saving.
The article also reflects the wider concern about household costs, citing a 4% energy-price rise in October and forecasts of further increases in January. Those figures are presented in the source report; the article does not specify the tariff or forecasting source in the supplied material, so they should not be treated as a current, universal price forecast.
“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 consumer energy expert, quoted by Ideal Home
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Savings Have Not Been Measured
The report does not provide a controlled comparison, energy-meter data, or a calculation of bill savings. Its temperature readings come from one home and reflect differences across window coverings, not a verified reduction in heating demand. It is also unclear how the measurements were taken, how long conditions were recorded, or whether other factors such as drafts and heating settings were controlled.
The cited October price increase and January forecasts lack enough detail in the supplied report to establish which tariffs, dates or projections they cover. The article also does not show whether the results would be similar in homes with different glazing, window sizes, heating systems or levels of insulation. The practice may help retain warmth, but the size of any financial benefit remains unknown.
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A Practical Test at Home
Households interested in trying the approach can close curtains shortly before local sunset and observe whether rooms feel more comfortable, while keeping heating settings consistent. To establish an energy effect rather than a temperature difference behind a curtain, households would need to compare energy use under similar weather and occupancy conditions over a suitable period.
Ideal Home’s report does not announce a follow-up test or publish a quantified savings estimate. Any household considering buying thermal curtains or an automated device would need to weigh the cost against its own needs; the article provides no evidence of a guaranteed payback.
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Key Questions
Does closing curtains before sunset save energy?
It may help reduce heat loss through windows, according to So Energy expert Stuart Middleton, as quoted by Ideal Home. The report does not measure how much energy or money the practice saves.
When should I close my curtains?
The report recommends closing them shortly before sunset, so daylight warmth can enter before the curtains are drawn. Sunset time varies by date and location.
Do thermal curtains work better than standard curtains?
In the writer’s home, the reported temperature difference was about 2°C across thermal curtains and blinds, compared with about half a degree across standard curtains. Those are observations from one home, not a general performance guarantee.
How much could I save on my energy bill?
The report does not provide a bill-saving figure. Any savings would depend on the home’s glazing, insulation, curtain fit, heating use and other conditions.
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