Window blind
Vertical blinds run along a track system which can tilt open and closed and move side-to-side.
There are also several types of window coverings, called shades, that use a single piece of soft material instead of slats.
Cellular blinds work by trapping air inside the cell structure once opened and create a barrier between the window surface and the room.
Due to the unavailability of standardized tests, no ranking system currently exists to compare the efficacy of these blinds.
Windows and doors make up for almost one-third of a home's total thermal loss, according to the Department of Energy (United Kingdom).
Cell shapes in the blinds hold trapped air and create a barrier between the window surface and the room, thus lessening the transfer of heat.
[4] In common with all blinds, cellular shades can reduce solar gain in summer and provide room darkening or blackout for sleeping.
Cordless cellular shades are available to reduce the risk of strangulation for small children.
When opened, the Romans stack up evenly; when covering the full window height, they are smooth without overlapping.
[6] The slats are typically manufactured using a rigid material such as aluminium, plastic, or wood and move in unison through a series of wires that run through the blinds.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Venetian blinds were widely adopted in office buildings to regulate light and air.
The vanes can rotate, changing the amount of light entering the room, and, when in open position, traverse the track (and thus be stacked compactly on one side of the window).
When closed, the vanes tightly overlap, creating a good barrier against the sunlight penetration in summer and energy loss in winter.
In the 1970s there were few choices of fabric- usually beige or white, which had to have stiffener embedded to prevent fraying, rather like on roller blinds fabric but using a thicker textile.
Stationary vertical blinds are hung in the doorways of some homes and businesses which generally leave the door open.
In certain areas of the UK window blinds are used to disguise the fact that offices have PCs in them and are used as a burglary deterrent.
Pinoleum blinds are made up of small wooden twigs laid horizontally which are joined by vertical threading.
These blinds have become more popular as the products have matured, becoming cheaper and more versatile at the same time offering more of a natural wood look.
Because of their resistance to warping, faux wood window blinds are suitable for areas with extreme temperature swings or high moisture, such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Venetian blinds, both horizontal and vertical, are available in a number of man-made materials (either resembling wood or metal or simply plastic).
These are better suited to areas where moisture or direct contact with water is likely to cause a problem, such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Conservatory blinds (i.e. ceiling fixed via a number of horizontal pulleys) are often made of man-made materials.
Corded window blinds present a strangulation hazard to children, causing 184 deaths in the United States between 1996 and 2012.
[14] The US CPSC recommends using cordless or cord-free window coverings where children live or visit.
The shades that go on the side windows of a vehicle are usually attached using either suction cups or static cling.
