Wood blinds have long been popular for reducing heat and light from penetrating windows and into homes. The thickness and heat absorbing qualities of wood make it a natural choice for insulating rooms from the hot afternoon sun, reducing energy costs. However, in recent years, new technologies have made wood blinds even more energy efficient.

Comfortex, Levolor and Hunter Douglas are some of the leading manufacturers of wood blinds. Comfortex, a twenty-year veteran of the wood blinds industry and the youngest of the three, has placed an emphasis on creating products that not only blog light, but also reduce cooling costs.

The company was founded with the assistance of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority specifically to develop energy efficient window treatments. Today they offer a full line of window shades, blinds, and shutters.

Wood Alloy Blinds: Insulation and Durability

The process of creating wood alloy is proprietary technique of blends real American hardwood with thermal polymers that create a material with the richness of real wood but with greater durability.

This technology is also environmentally friendly.  By using less wood and by getting much of that wood from industrial byproducts, these blinds preserve natural resources. Comfortex offer two lines of window blinds that use this revolutionary material: Woodwinds and WoodChimes.

The Woodwinds line offers four slat profiles to match any decor: flat, plantation shutter, S-curve, and the recently-added beveled blinds.  They these wood allow blinds offer superior light control and very good energy efficiency and UV blocking.

The WoodChimes line is a less expensive offering that still offers the advantages of wood alloy blinds. They are made with routeless slats to give tighter closure, a sleeker look, and superior privacy and light control.

Faux Wood Finishes to Reduce Environmental Decay and Damage

Though wood has always been a popular choice for blinds, the downside of wood blinds is their susceptibility to warping, cracking, and fading. Faux wood solves this problem, but in the past has taken away from the rich, natural look that makes wood blinds so aesthetically pleasing.

The goal of any of faux wood product is to give the impression of wood combined with resistance to moisture and UV damage that will keep them from warping, cracking, or fading. Comfortex recently began using a new technique they call Fine Finish that gives these wood blinds a much deeper, more natural look.  The blinds now have a richer stain and more dimensional grain that really enhances the illusion of real wood finish.