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An Ideal Home writer reported that rooms felt warmer after closing curtains before sunset and measured temperature differences across several window coverings. An energy expert said curtains can slow heat loss through windows, but the report did not establish a specific energy or bill saving.
Closing curtains before sunset may help homes retain heat on colder evenings, an Ideal Home report says, after its writer found temperature differences across several types of window coverings. The report describes a simple, no-cost habit, but does not quantify how much energy or money it saved.
The writer said they had resumed closing curtains early over the previous week and found their home felt warmer for longer in the evening, reducing the need, in their experience, to turn the heating on for another hour. In a temperature check after sunset, they measured a 2°C difference in front of and behind thermal curtains in some rooms. That is an observation from one home, not a controlled estimate of household energy savings.
The report also compared window coverings in the writer’s home. It recorded a difference of just under 1°C around wooden blinds and about half a degree around standard curtains; the writer said thermal curtains and blinds performed best among the treatments tested. The account does not specify the measurement method or conditions in enough detail to treat these figures as results that will apply to other homes.
Stuart Middleton, So Energy’s consumer energy expert, said curtains add a layer that can slow heat escaping through windows. He said thick, well-fitting or thermally lined curtains may be particularly effective. The potential benefit, he added, depends on the home’s glazing, curtains and insulation, making a precise saving from this habit alone difficult to calculate.
Curtains May Reduce Evening Heat Loss
Windows can be a route for heat to leave a home, so covering them after daylight has faded may help rooms stay comfortable. If people feel less need to run central heating or portable heaters for as long, the habit could contribute to lower energy use. The report, however, provides no measured reduction in energy consumption or bills; its evidence is a writer’s experience and temperature readings in one house.
The practical appeal is that closing existing curtains costs nothing and requires no equipment. The likely effect varies: a draughty room with thin curtains may respond differently from a well-insulated room with thermal window coverings. Readers should treat the advice as a possible small measure, not a substitute for assessing overall heating needs or insulation.
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Why the Timing Matters
The report recommends drawing curtains just before sunset, rather than leaving them open after dark. That timing is intended to retain warmth gained from sunlight during the day while creating an extra barrier as outdoor temperatures fall. Sunset changes through the year and by location, so the writer suggests checking a local weather app and setting a reminder.
The article places the advice against colder weather and rising household energy costs, but the supplied report does not establish a direct link between curtain use and any particular tariff change. It also mentions automated curtain devices that can follow a schedule or respond to outdoor brightness. Those are optional conveniences; the core suggestion is simply to close the coverings at dusk.
“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
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How Much Energy Is Saved?
The report does not calculate kilowatt-hours saved, a percentage reduction in heating use or a change in energy bills. It gives no detailed testing protocol, such as the instruments used, room conditions, outdoor temperature or whether readings were repeated. The reported temperature differences should therefore be understood as observations in one home rather than a general performance guarantee.
It is also unclear how much the benefit changes with different window types, curtain fit, radiator placement, ventilation and insulation. Middleton said those factors affect the result. The article’s cited energy-price figures provide background but do not measure the effect of closing curtains, and no independent test of the habit is included in the supplied material.
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A Low-Cost Habit to Test
Households can try closing curtains shortly before local sunset and note whether rooms remain comfortable, while keeping heating settings consistent enough for a meaningful personal comparison. The report suggests checking for gaps around curtains and choosing thicker or thermal-lined coverings where practical. It does not promise a particular bill reduction.
Further evidence would be needed to estimate savings across homes, including controlled comparisons of heating use under different window and insulation conditions. For now, the report’s conclusion is limited: closing curtains at dusk is an easy measure that may slow heat loss, with the size of any benefit depending on the home.
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Key Questions
Does closing curtains before sunset save energy?
It may help slow heat loss through windows, according to So Energy expert Stuart Middleton, but the Ideal Home report does not measure energy consumption or confirm a specific saving.
When should I close my curtains?
The report recommends closing them shortly before local sunset, so daylight warmth can enter first and the coverings are in place as evening temperatures drop.
Which curtains performed best in the reported test?
The writer reported the largest temperature difference around thermal curtains and blinds, about 2°C in some rooms. Wooden blinds showed just under 1°C, while standard curtains showed about half a degree. These were observations in one home.
Can the report say how much money I will save?
No. It gives no bill or energy-use calculation. Any effect depends on factors including the windows, the curtains and the home’s insulation.
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