A sunroom is a perfect way to introduce natural light and space into your home. Because of the sun’s exposure, however, it can negatively impact your energy bills. It’s important to keep energy-efficiency in mind when designing a sunroom. Here are a few ways you can make a significant difference.

How to Improve Energy Efficiency in a Sunroom

1. Use Tinted Windows

Beating sun can quickly warm your home. This causes your HVAC system to work harder, wasting energy and reducing home comfort. Overworking can also cut into your unit’s life span. Prevent this by tinting the sunroom windows. A low-E radiant blocker will deflect solar energy and keep warm air in during the winter. It will also filter ultraviolet rays to create a safer space to relax. You can even invest in plastic window covers to improve insulation.

2. Ventilate

To create a more comfortable temperature, install operable vents at the highest points in your sunroom. This allows you to help rising hot air escape. For the winter, install them near the floor to circulate warm air into your home. There are both manual and programmable versions that will detect threshold temperatures and open as needed.

3. Install a Ceiling Fan

When the temperatures climb, you can use a ceiling fan instead of your HVAC system to cool the sunroom. Likewise, in the winter, you can invert the fan blades to generate warm air. For ideal placement, the blades should be 7–9 feet above the floor and 10–12 feet below the ceiling. For larger sunrooms, choose fans that are 52 inches or longer. 

If you’re ready to add a sunroom to your home, Rustique Sunrooms is proud to offer comprehensive installation services throughout St. Charles and St. Louis counties in Missouri. For over 45 years, they’ve designed and installed sunrooms, pergolas, cover decks, and home additions. Explore their previous work online, and call (636) 262-8831 today to speak with a representative.