Marking Earth Day 2021, the shade manufacturer Hunter Douglas is pointing out to the custom installation industry the steps it takes to contribute to a greener planet.
Citing recent research that finds 57% of consumers are willing to change their purchasing habits to help reduce their negative impact to the environment, the company says there is growing interest in eco-friendly products far beyond Earth Day.
According to Hunter Douglas, automated shading has long been associated with energy savings because it allows homeowners to capitalize on natural light and regulate the temperature of their homes beyond the traditional thermostat. The company says its automated shading sustainable fabric design, AERC certified styles and reusable power options can meet homeowners’ eco-friendly goals and expectations.
Sustainable Fabrics Support Annual Earth Day
Hunter Douglas offers a variety of fabrics, including its sustainably sourced GreenScreen Sea-Tex. The fabric is produced from recovered shoreline plastics and is Cradle to Cradle Certified Bronze, a globally recognized measure of safer, more sustainable products made for the circular economy.
Hunter Douglas notes it also works with Bionic, a material engineering company that has established coastal recycling infrastructure in developing nations and delivers fully traceable textiles from marine and coastal plastic. Sea-Tex fabrics are exclusive to Hunter Douglas Designer Screen Shades and are available in five neutral tones that are designed to provide privacy, UV protection, glare control and view-through, all while filtering sunlight.
Additionally, Hunter Douglas says its Applause Honeycomb Shades are available in vintage fabric made from 40% recycled content. A blend of pre- and post-consumer polyester, the shades are customizable by size and come in multiple neutral color options to match any home.
Also unique to the Honeycomb Shades is a double-cell construction, which the company says offers even more insulation for increased energy savings.
AERC Certification Represents Energy Efficiency
Other potential energy savings benefits of the automated shades category in general include streamlining ways to regulate the temperature in a home through remote control, scheduling, plus integration with other smart devices.
Hunter Douglas notes that its Select fabrics that complement its Duette Honeycomb Shades, as well as its Applause Honeycomb Shades, Sonnette Cellular Roller Shades, and Designer Screen Shades all carry Attachments Energy Ratings Council (AERC) certification.
AERC provides an unbiased, third-party certification of the energy-saving potential of a window attachment product. Hunter Douglas states that its lines of cellular shades and cellular roller shades were the first to earn an energy performance rating. AERC rated and certified window treatments offer benefits across climates helping maintain temperature so homeowners are not spending more than they need to on heating or air conditioning.
In addition, Hunter Douglas’ Rechargeable Battery Wand was developed tot reduce waste by conserving the resources associated with manufacturing and distributing disposable batteries. Hunter Douglas explains the battery is easy to remove, recharge, and replace, and the charge lasts about one year, depending on shade use to make it an Earth Day friendly product. For added convenience, homeowners can be alerted via email or app notification when shade battery is low and needs to be recharged.
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