Top 6 Eco-Friendly Window Shades — Convert Your House To An Eco Home!
I’m willing to bet you’ve never thought about eco-friendliness (or lack thereof) in the context of your home’s interior window treatments!
Believe it or not, environmentally friendly window coverings are an important part of a sustainable household. From energy efficiency to toxic off-gassing, your current window shades could be falling short in ways you don’t even realize!
One of the best options for eco-friendly window blinds is the EarthShade HappyShades collection. These customizable window treatments are constructed with compostable materials using ethical practices.
Did you know that there are different types of eco friendly window shades for homes? Read on to learn more and choose which one’s best for you! Let’s begin.
Types of Eco Friendly Window Shades
Energy-Efficient Shades
Energy-efficient window shades are a great “green” solution for any home. These shades come in many different styles, all of which protect your home’s interior from the temperatures outside.
Cellular shades feature pleated fabric that traps air in a honeycomb pattern. Multiple layers may be included for even better insulation.
Cellular Shades
Cellular shades can lower heating and cooling costs year-round. This not only saves money but reduces household energy consumption overall.
Solar Shades
Solar shades are ideal for any window that receives regular bright sunlight throughout the day.
This type of energy-efficient shade can greatly reduce cooling needs in summertime (or year-round in warmer climates) by blocking the sun’s heat.
Solar window shades also offer valuable protection against harmful UV rays. Installing solar shades can prevent the sun from fading interior furniture and decor. It can also keep vulnerable family members safe from potential skin damage.
Wooden Shades
Wooden window shades are often seen as a luxury home finish. But these shades don’t just look great. They’re also better for the environment than many alternatives.
Wood is, of course, an organic material. This means it will safely biodegrade or even compost once it’s reached the end of its usable life.
Many wood window shades are also more durable than their plastic counterparts. The longer a set of window shades lasts, the fewer raw materials will be consumed to make more in the future.
Remember that not all wood is created equal. Look for wooden blinds made from locally sourced trees. If possible, purchase from window shade companies that support anti-deforestation and other sustainability efforts.
Bamboo Shades
When shopping for natural window shades, you’ll likely come across several products made of bamboo. Bamboo blinds may be even more environmentally friendly than normal wood!
Bamboo grows incredibly fast — up to 3 feet per day — and requires few resources. Once harvested, it closely resembles the luxurious look of wood.
The one main downside of bamboo is that it’s near impossible to source locally outside of Asia. It’s believed that the bamboo trade contributes significantly to global transportation emissions.
Recycled Shades
Reducing our reliance on plastic is one of the most important principles of sustainable living. One great way to get around the creation of new plastic is by investing in recycled plastic products instead.
Window shades made of recycled goods aren’t yet commonplace. But — hopefully, in the near future — we should see more and more companies adopting these materials in favor of textiles like vinyl!
Best Eco-Friendly Shades For Your Home In 2024
Best Overall — EarthShade HappyShades
EarthShade HappyShades
Eliminate potentially toxic off-gassing with the first window shades that can be composted at home.
It’s impossible to highlight one specific product from the EarthShade HappyShades lineup! Fashioned after traditional Roman shades, these window treatments can be customized to suit your home without harming the environment.
According to EarthShade, this collection of eco-friendly window coverings has been completely backyard-compostable since 2003.
Some of the most popular materials used to make HappyShades include hardwood, bamboo, grass, and hemp. Many of these materials are sourced from Central and South America using International and Domestic Fair Trade practices.
Best Premium Option — Levolor Solar Shades
Levolor Solar Shades
Customized solar shades that block heat and UV rays without completely obscuring your view.
Eco-friendly solar shades are a wonderful alternative to traditional roller shades that provide little — if any — UV protection. The LEVOLOR Solar Shades block up to 90% of UV rays and are available in a variety of custom styles to fit almost any window.
These heat-reflective solar shades come in several different colors. While the lighter colorways allow you to still enjoy the view from outside your windows, the darker options are perfect for boosting your home’s privacy.
The cordless version of these solar shades is certified Best for Kids. This offers much-needed peace of mind for households with pets or young children!
All Levolor Solar Shades are manufactured in Mexico. For more information about the materials used to make these window shades, we recommend contacting the brand directly.
Best Budget Option — Bali Cellular Shades
Bali Cellular Shades
Update your home’s window treatments without breaking the bank with these insulating shades.
If you could lower your family’s energy use without spending a fortune, would you? Well, the Bali Cellular Shades could make that possible.
These simple eco-friendly cellular shades are designed to maintain your home’s internal temperature. So there’s little need to worry about drafts or poorly insulated windows eating away at valuable resources while driving your utility bills through the roof.
The cordless lift system is certified Best for Kids. Bali Cellular Shades are available in several different dimensions to fit most standard windows.
Best Bamboo Blinds — Arlo Blinds Tuscan Bamboo Cordless Roman Shade
Arlo Blinds Tuscan Bamboo Cordless Roman Shade
Give your home a unique aesthetic with these light-filtering Roman shades made of natural bamboo.
Sustainable bamboo shades, like the Arlo Blinds Cordless Bamboo Roman Shades, offer a more relaxed aesthetic than solar, cellular, and even hardwood blinds. These eco-friendly Roman shades — available in several natural finishes — are great for any space with a Bohemian decor style!
Install these shades in any room that would benefit from a bit of extra privacy. The woven bamboo material still allows sunlight to pass through for a soft, filtered effect.
The cordless lift system is certified Best for Kids (again, great news for parents and pet owners!). The valance and bottom rail are both made of natural wood.
Best Wooden Blinds — Select American Hardwood Blinds
Select American Hardwood Blinds
Sustainable window blinds made from solid basswood lumber grown in the USA.
Select Blinds is one of the largest online retailers of sustainable window treatments. The Select American Hardwood Blinds are easily one of the top choices for shades made of solid, authentic wood.
These hardwood window blinds are made of basswood, an extremely fast-growing (and therefore relatively sustainable) species of tree. The basswood used to make these window treatments is grown in the United States.
Select Blinds offers a wide range of detailed customizations that you can choose yourself, including a child-safe cordless option. The top and bottom rails are also made of real wood.
Best Recycled Blinds — SimplyEco Cordless Cellular Shades
SimplyEco Cordless Cellular Shades
Save the planet one bottle at a time with these window shades made of recycled plastic.
We know that cellular shades are one of the most energy-efficient solutions. But these SimplyEco Cordless Cellular Shades are good for the environment in more ways than one!
These sustainable window shades are manufactured using recycled post-consumer plastic. An average of 12 soda or water bottles go into making each standard cellular shade.
You can select from several different installation and operation styles (we recommend the cordless option for maximum safety). These cellular shades also come in a Blackout version for the bedroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are faux wood blinds eco-friendly?
Despite common belief, faux wood blinds are one of the least sustainable options out there.
Faux wood blinds are typically made from hardwood and PVC. Both of these materials can be recycled on their own. Once these materials are fused together, however, they can no longer be recycled.
Today’s faux wood blinds can be nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. When shopping for eco-friendly window treatments, be sure you are purchasing natural rather than composite wood blinds.
Can you recycle vinyl window blinds?
Yes, it’s possible to recycle vinyl window shades! But you probably can’t put old blinds in your household recycling bin.
While vinyl is recyclable, it shouldn’t be mixed with other types of plastic. This is a problem for residential recycling centers, which typically process all materials together.
Before sending your worn-out vinyl blinds to the local recycling center, double-check that it accepts PVC or vinyl. If it doesn’t, consider shipping your old window shades to a recycling center that will.
Are aluminum blinds sustainable?
Aluminum is one of the easiest metals to recycle! So if window shades made of natural or recycled materials aren’t a viable option, aluminum blinds are a close runner-up.
Recyclable aluminum shades reduce the demand for vinyl and other non-renewable materials. It also keeps these materials out of landfills and the environment as a whole.
Last update on 2024-04-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
