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What are Automated Window Shades?
Smart window shades are the future of home privacy, security, and energy conservation. There are a variety of automated window shades available on the market and growing daily. At the basic level, they offer a remote method for raising or lowering window shades from a smartphone app, connected remote control, or even by voice command.
Depending on the solution you choose, smarter automated window shades may offer options to program preferences, respond to collected data like temperature, and the option to move window shades both individually and as a group. Most solutions require a hub or bridge that seamlessly integrates smart blinds into the larger home automation system.
And don’t forget to keep in mind the chemical composition of window shade material to ensure a safe choice for your family. While automated window shades are excellent for energy savings, some may contain PVC with phthalates; a common additive to cut manufacturing costs. Flame retardant additives applied to increase the safety of blinds and curtains in the case of fire can also have a negative impact as their chemical leaks into your clean air. These added chemicals have been known to cause problems in pregnant women and young children. Be sure to do your research and ask the right questions to ensure a safe choice in automated window shades for your home.
Choosing the Right Automated Window Shares for Your Home
We’re still in the early days of smart homes and automated window shades, but you can certainly expect to see significant growth in functionality, integrations, and options. Read on as we consider the newly available options in motorized window shades.
Hunter Douglas PowerView
The intelligent PowerView window shades by Hunter Douglas take automation to a whole new level, as proven by their Red Dot Design Award.
You can schedule these motorized blinds to raise and lower with your home schedule to conserve energy and create your desired environment 24/7. Also, you can control all blinds through the PowerView app, with PowerView Pebble remote controls, and with Alexa voice control.
The game-changer offered by Hunter Douglas is the programmable scenes feature. Hunter Douglas makes it easy to program up to 6 unique “scenes” or combinations of window shade positions using the app or remote. That means you can create a weekend blind schedule separate from weekday schedules to give yourself a little extra time to sleep in. Program different schedules for winter and summer as the sun rotates around your home. And you can even create vacation automation to raise and lower shades systematically to give the appearance that you’re really at home.
The PowerView motorized blinds start at $250/window.
Pella’s Insynctive Motorized Window Shades
Pella takes a slightly different approach at smart window shades with their Insynctive motorized blinds and shades. Unlike other smart shades, Pella’s are built into the window itself, between panes of glass.
The automated blinds can be raised, lowered, and even tilted with a tap of the provided remote control or via your smart device with a bridge connection. They can also be programmed to raise and lower at set times to fit your family’s schedule and the suns’ rotation.
The batteries in each window shade recharge automatically through solar panels or with the help of an in-room charger when solar charging is not available. The only downside to Pella’s automated blinds is they only integrate with other Pella smart home products.
Pella’s Insynctive blinds start at $143/window and require professional installation.
Laura Bourland
Laura grew up in the California suburbs, far removed from environmentalism, but nature always has a way. She uprooted her life in 2015, moving to the countryside of Washington to live a more sustainable and simple life on 12 acres. She and her fiancee are learning on the job as they attempt everything from gardening and natural pest control to eco-friendly building and home improvement.
