November 26, 2016: November 20, 2015 ·We have wonderful picture windows on the South side of our house. Spectacular view, plenty of natural lighting, a good breeze most days when we need it, no complaints - mostly. Some days, though, the light is just a little too blinding, like today. Wearing sunglasses in the house is not always the answer. I taped a new, clean black garbage bag (for now) in the window, just to give us a bit of a break. I could not believe how HOT that bag got, really quickly! As an experiment, I put some bubble wrap under the bag (between the glass and the bag). Super hot! I have some beautiful, dark green fabric that I'm thinking would be great for turning my picture windows into solar furnaces! Yes, I know you can buy special curtains, but I like using what I already have, as much as possible! I also have an idea to allow proper air flow, still allow some of that natural day light, still allow some spectacular view - totally customized!
November 26, 2016 · Bubble wrap - not just therapeutic... it floated on my pool in the summer, insulates the windows in the winter... in between, it takes up a lot of space and it is a lot of extra plastic. I also have to tape it up; it's never stuck as it should, despite crazy amounts of condensation. I'm not sure I'll buy any more for insulating the windows. If I happen upon some, I might tape it up. Otherwise, looking at better curtain ideas, instead.
2017: This year, I'm going more for fabric curtains and less with the plastic bags and bubble wrap - for environmental reasons