Eco Friendly Curtains / Drapes Help Make a Green Home
I like curtains. (Especially when they’re eco friendly curtains or drapes!).
Drapes are warm, and absorb sound, so you don’t get harsh echoes. Plus, they can save you money on your heating and cooling costs!
How to Check if Your Curtains Are EcoFriendly
Here’s how to make sure you’ve got eco friendly curtains in your home:
- Avoid synthetic materials such as polyester, nylon, and rayon. They are made from petroleum (a fossil fuel) which is lousy for the environment and is a non-renewable resource.
- Instead choose natural fibres such as bamboo, cotton, linen, silk, hemp and wool. Try to buy organic if you can. Linen or hemp curtains in particular look simple and feel earthy.
- Choose fabrics that have been coloured with less toxic, low-impact dyes.
- Avoid curtains coated with stain treatments and flame retardants, because they will contain toxic PFCs and PBDEs, formaldehyde and more.
Related: yes, you can get eco friendly silk that doesn’t kill the worms that spin the silk.
If you’re worried about the fire risk posed by untreated fabrics, choose wool as it’s naturally resistant to fire. (It also doesn’t stain as easily as other fabrics).- Don’t use extra material in huge swags. Use enough material to make them look good and be functional, but don’t waste extra material “just because”.
- It’s best to choose drapes with lining or backing for energy efficiency – if your curtains aren’t already lined, backing can be added fairly easily.
How to Use EcoFriendly Curtains to Improve Energy Efficiency
Have you ever thought that ecofriendly curtains or drapes could improve the energy efficiency of your home – and therefore save you money? Here’s how:
- Make sure the lining or backing is light-coloured (so that it will deflect the sun’s rays and help reduce summer cooling costs).
- Always close the curtains on windows that face the sun on hot, sunny days. This will help to keep the room cool and save you money on cooling.
- In winter, close the curtains in rooms you’re not using in order to keep draughts out and precious heat in.
These are all simple ways to make sure that your home is green, healthy and safe – eco friendly curtains definitely help!
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[…] EcoFriendly Link recommends buying curtains with natural fibres, such as cotton, silk, bamboo, or wool. For a more earthy look, linen and hemp curtains definitely add to the vibe. Plus, making sure these materials haven’t been dyed (or, at least, ensuring they were dyed with low-toxicity/low-impact dyes), is a must for an environmentally friendly home. […]