Amidst Australia’s ongoing trend of record-breaking heat, recent climate reports show the nation is experiencing significantly warmer-than-average temperatures, with 2023 ranking as Australia’s equal-warmest year on record¹ and 2024 continuing the pattern with widespread extreme heat conditions². Bushfire authorities have already issued elevated fire danger alerts across multiple states for summer 2025³. With hotter, longer summers becoming the norm, preparing your home for heat resilience is more important than ever.
Windows remain one of the biggest contributors to household energy loss. Research shows that up to 40% of your home’s heating energy can be lost and up to 87% of heat gained can occur through uncovered windows⁴. The good news? With the right window furnishings, including blinds and shutters, you can significantly improve thermal performance and keep your home cooler - without relying heavily on air conditioning or increasing energy bills.
A well-insulated home doesn’t just feel better - it saves money. And often, it’s the simple changes that make the biggest difference.
During the day, windows allow in more radiant energy than they release. Sunlight easily passes through the glass, but once the heat is inside, much of it becomes trapped as infrared radiation. Your interior warms steadily. Blocking heat before it enters is far more efficient than cooling a room after the fact.
Small habits, like closing window coverings first thing in the morning, help lock in the cooler overnight air and slow the rise in indoor temperature. High-quality sunscreen fabrics reflect heat and UV rays, dramatically cutting a room’s heat gain while helping protect furniture from fading and sun damage. Window coverings with insulating properties offer an additional barrier against heat.
Luxaflex® Duette® Shades remain one of the most energy-efficient window coverings available, thanks to their innovative honeycomb ‘cell’ structure. These cells trap air, forming a layer of insulation at the window.
For enhanced performance, the Luxaflex® Duette® Architella® range features a unique honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb construction, providing four layers of fabric and three insulating air pockets. These pockets reduce heat transfer and can lower an average home’s winter heating costs by up to 43%⁵ when compared with standard benchmark blinds - without changing the original window.
External shading is one of the most effective ways to limit heat entering the home, reducing heat transfer through windows by up to 90%⁶. Given that 87% of a home’s summer heat gain occurs through windows⁷, outdoor shading is a powerful tool for improving comfort.
A strong lifestyle trend heading into 2025 is the integration of indoor and outdoor living. Awnings extend usable living space while providing shade, airflow, and UV protection - ideal for summer entertaining and for reducing interior heat gain.
The Australian-designed Luxaflex® Evo Awnings range combines durable materials with streamlined operations to withstand harsh UV exposure and Australia’s evolving climate extremes. For those wanting to reduce energy consumption, the Luxaflex® Evo MagnaTrack Awning , paired with Luxaflex® Spectra Fibreglass Sunscreen fabric, can block up to 95%⁸ of solar heat, offering long-term energy savings and year-round comfort.
With rising temperatures and increased weather variability, optimising insulation and reducing cooling demand is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve home comfort. Thoughtful shading and window coverings can make a noticeable difference this summer - and every summer after.
If you're interested in finding out more about the window coverings used above,
1 Bureau of Meteorology – Annual Climate Statement 2023: Australia’s equal-warmest year on record
https://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/annual/aus/
2 Bureau of Meteorology – Climate summary updates for 2024: persistent warm anomalies
https://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/
3 ABC News – Fire authorities warn of heightened bushfire risks for summer 2024–25
https://www.abc.net.au/news/
4 Your Home – Passive Design: Glazing
https://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/glazing
5 Energy modelling reference (same as original): Independent third-party modelling comparing fully recessed, reveal-mounted Luxaflex® Duette® Architella® Shades with 20mm blockout fabric to AccuRate Holland Blinds in an average Sydney home.
6 Australian Building Codes Board – Energy Efficiency Case Studies
https://www.abcb.gov.au/
7 Australian Glass & Window Association – Window Energy Performance Research
https://www.agwa.com.au/
8 Enduris Fibreglass Core Technical Data – Solar heat reduction performance
http://www.endurisglasscore.com/
