When researching home textiles, I tend to stick to sustainable fabrics like organic cotton, hemp, linen and the like. But as most of you know, there are many shades of green, and many characteristics that can make a product eco-friendly.
When I first learned about Eclipse Curtains, my first question was what they are made of. Much to my dismay, I learned that they weren’t made of a sustainable fabric, but polyester. I was tempted to walk away right then and there, but another quality of these window treatments made me take a second look — they are blackout curtains, meant to block light, reduce noise and, lo and behold, help reduce your energy costs.
I was definitely intrigued by that last characteristic, so Eclipse sent me a curtain to use and review.
Blackout performance
Having only used the single curtain for a few weeks, it is hard to tell whether it will affect my energy costs any, but I can give you my perspective on its performace otherwise. I hung the Robert Thermaweave black curtain panel in my bedroom next to a traditional curtain that I’ve had for a couple of years. I thought that curtain, which is made of dark brown cotton twill, was pretty good at blocking light. Compared to the Eclipse panel, it may as well have been sheer. Long story short: If you like sleeping in darkness, you’ll love Eclipse curtains.
Insulating performance
When I first hung the curtain, it was still hot outside. The area directly in front of the Eclipse panel was noticeably cooler than the rest of the room, and much cooler than the area in front of the curtain next to it. The curtain itself was pretty hot, given that it is black and held in heat. But that’s the point — it kept the heat contained to the area between the window and the curtain instead of allowing it into the room.
Now that the weather is much cooler, the opposite is true. We turn off the heating and cooling system during the day fairly often. Where much of the house can get pretty chilly, our room stays much more temperate. This wasn’t true before, as our room often cooled down before any other room.
Style
My amateur photos don’t do the curtains justice, and amazingly enough, neither do the photos that came directly from Eclipse. The style that I received, the Robert Thermaweave, is truly sleek and stylish. It is made of a tuxedo black polyester with a slight sheen and a subtle grid pattern. They would be great in a room where black is an integral part of your color palette.
And if you don’t like black, they are also available in a variety of other colors.
The verdict
While I wish Eclipse curtains were made of a fabric more sustainable than polyester, I still think they have potential to help reduce your heating and cooling bills. For them to be truly effective, you’d have to use them in almost every room, or at least keep the doors closed to the rooms where you used them. The fact that they are also very affordable makes them more accessible to a much wider group of consumers. And since reducing energy consumption should be on every eco-diva’s list of ways to save the Earth, I think Eclipse curtains have got a fighting chance.
Why It’s Green:
- Helps reduce heating and cooling bills by offering extra insulation near your windows
Price: $12-40 apiece
Want to win?
Eclipse graciously offered up a pair of black Robert Thermaweave Curtain Panels for one lucky reader of Green Your Decor. Valance is not included as shown in the photo, and trust me — they look much better in person than they do in the photo. Simply visit Eclipse, then come back here and leave a comment about one thing you liked or learned by 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, November 5, 2008.
Want to enter more than once? Boost your chances of winning by completing one or more of the tasks on this list. Please leave a separate comment for each entry:
- If you haven’t already, sign up for Green Your Decor’s email updates by 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, November 5, 2008. You must verify your email subscription to be eligible. After you sign up, FeedBurner will send you a verification email. Please do not ignore it — your entry will be invalid if you do not verify. All current subscribers are eligible to win. And there’s no need to leave a comment letting me know you subscribe by email. I’ll know you’re a subscriber
- If you’d prefer to receive your updates via RSS, sign up for the GYD feed. Then please leave a comment letting me know that you’ve done so, and be sure to include your email address. RSS subscribers are anonymous otherwise.
- Blog about GreenYourDecor.com and post a link to your blog entry here.
- Stumble or give a thumbs up to any page at GreenYourDecor.com via StumbleUpon and post a link to your SU profile to verify your thumbs up.
- Fave Green Your Decor on Technorati. Then come back here and leave a comment with your Technorati user name so I can verify it.
So that means every participant can receive up to 6 entries. You have until 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, November 5, 2008, to enter. U.S. mailing addresses only. A winner will be chosen via Random.org and contacted via email. Good luck everyone!
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I’m Jennae Petersen, and I’m a lot of things. A mother, a graphic artist, a connosieur of beautiful interiors and a purveyor of all things design. Green Your Decor was borne of frustration in my attempts to find eco-friendly housewares that were also beautiful, and inspiration to do something to reduce my own carbon footprint and help others do the same in a beautiful way.
{ 77 comments }
It is a shame they aren’t sustainable. They could easily use recycled poly like Kravet, Duralee, and Robert Allen are using.
Oh how I’d love to win these…mine are always hand made curtains and not always the best. I’d love to hang these in my sons room where the sun shines in the hardest.
I am already subscribed to your email and that’s how I found out about this wonderful giveaway!!!
-Barb
I am signed up for your email updates,I love being a subscriber!
I like the fact that it Blocks 99% of light ,My husband works nights an sleeps during the day so this would be wonderful for him,thanks for the chance
I have a south facing livingroom window-lots of sunshine and heat.The Eclipse Curtains would really help in the summertime!
I like that they block out light and noise, and insulate against heat and cold. Great giveaway, thanks!
Mary @ Adventures in Mommylands last blog post..The Earthwise Herbal Giveaway at dkMommy Spot
Blogged ya:
http://mommyland512.blogspot.com/2008/10/eclipse-black-out-curtains-giveaway-at.html
Thanks again!
Mary @ Adventures in Mommylands last blog post..The Earthwise Herbal Giveaway at dkMommy Spot
Stumbled this post:
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Mary @ Adventures in Mommylands last blog post..The Earthwise Herbal Giveaway at dkMommy Spot
Faved this on Technorati, user name Mary512.
Mary @ Adventures in Mommylands last blog post..The Earthwise Herbal Giveaway at dkMommy Spot
I would so love this. I usually have trouble sleeping and hopefully this would help. Thank you so very much!
Wow, these sound great!! I like how they reduce noise,up to 40%.That would be great for band practice here:) and light by 99%!!
I love that they insulate against heat and block out 99% of light!
I never thought of curtains as reducing noise and saving energy…this is great! I am already subscribed to your emails.
The fact that it reduces stress would be a plus in my house. we are just a bunch of stressed out,headache having folks around here.
I subscribed!
They kind of look like shower curtains, but I’m the practical sort so I don’t mind.
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I blogged about you.
I would love these curtains!! I work night shift and this would be amazing!!
Jackie
Jackies last blog post..for everyone who works nights like me…
I really like that they save on the heating and cooling. They have to be a whole lot better at that than the shower curtains and blankets I have having in my windows… yeah I did say shower curtains!
PLEASE PICK ME!
Miss Amanda
What I found most appealing about the curtains was that they block 40% of outdoor sound. Our bedroom is on a corner and there is quite a bit of traffic. I would buy them for that feature alone.
I also blogged about your giveaway: http:// superangelsblog.com/ ?page_id=133
I also stumbled your giveaway: http://iamsuperangel.stumbleupon.com
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These are very cool! I love that they can block 40% of sound! I checked out where they are available, and while I am thrilled that they are easy to find, I was a little disappointed to only see big box stores and no independent merchants on the list. It’s okay, though. I can’t help but to love Target! LOL!
Jingles last blog post..A New Layout with Pink Paislee and Anna Griffin Fabric
I really was amazed to hear how much noise they block! I live over a row of bars in NYC–you can imagine how beneficial these would be for sleeping on Friday and Saturday nights, especially.
I like that they reduce energy costs. And I love the idea of having them in the nursery. The only thing I couldn’t find was the cost.
I am subscribed by rss.
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You are on my favs on technorati – CutieBootyCakes.
I stumbled this page. Can you tell I really need curtains? LOL
I’d really love for the opportunity to win these, I’ve been looking for something just like this! Because I’ve bought curtains that are so-called “theater style” and they still don’t blackout the room!
I love the fact that they are eco-friendly as well!
kristinia at lovingheartmommy dot com
We just subscribed to the email newsletter!
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they also Reduce noise by up to 40%
Those are awesome. I learned at the website that they actually reduce noise! I think that is amazing, since I live very close to a shopping mall and an airport. I could use some noise-blockage =)
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Hi Jennae,
I added you to my google reader.
Thank you for this giveaway I would love to green my household.
Mercedess last blog post..How My Family Saves Money by Buying in Bulk
I would love to win these for my sons room. His 1 window faces are road with lotsa noise; these would be perfect for his afternoon nap.
this is exactly the stylish alternative to velcro-ing black fleece to my bedroom windows!
thanks for the link.
I love that they block out heat. Here in Texas they are a necessity.
I subscribe to your blog and email newsletter.
chaffner at gte.net
I happen to like that thermaliner best. Not that I have any curtains to put it under anyhow. I have never had curtains. But I like curtains, and if I ever get around to buying any, I’d like to have as many curtain buying options as possible, so the liner lets me buy any curtain, and still have it be a blackout curtain. Awesome.
Jessicas last blog post..Mommy Multitasking: Smooth Legs
I learned under their product features that 27% of women say sleep is the most important component to their well-being. That is so true in my case! I relish getting a good night’s sleep and find that very important to my health. I also need to sleep in complete dark so these curtains would definately help with that!
I love the fact that they can keep the heat in or out, depending on the season. I have a gigantic, Southern facing window in my living room and the temperature is always different in that room because of it.
I also just subscribed to your RSS feed in Google reader. My email is: jgbeads AT gmail DOT com
what an interesting product, and I love the fact that they reduce noise and help with heating/cooling costs — thanks for another great contest!
Oh, they have my heart! They block noise!! We have some apartments behind our house and there are college kids who live in them. Bless their little hearts…but they don’t care if it’s 3:00 in the morning! I’d love to win these!!!
seeryusfam@msn.com
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I’m a subscriber via google reader.
seeryusfam@msn.com
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I’ve faved ya! I’m SeeryusMama
seeryusfam@msn.com
Skys last blog post..Ultimate Holiday Guide
love the block the heat
They have a patio door version – I think I need that one! Plus, it looks like they’re available in some chain stores (bed bath, target, etc) – it’s great to have a positive review of something that I might be able to get locally!
I love that they block 99% of sunlight. This wold be great for our bedroom. My husband work at night and has to sleep during the day. Thanks for the great giveaway!
hottmomma_03@yahoodotcom
I subscribed !!!
They really block 40% of outdoor sound?! I’d love to try that part out!
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
Sara B.s last blog post..How Many Giveaway Wins?
I love the fact that they “provide an effective barrier to unwanted noise”. My mom works 3rd shift and sleeps during the day so she could really use these.
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I am a subscriber via RSS!
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I stumbled your giveaway
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I learned these curtains come in various colors, other than what I thought was basic black, very cool. (Or warm!) Thanks.
I love that these curtains block out light and sound. I also like that they help insulate the room. I desperately need these curtain as I have just started working nights and find it difficult to sleep during the day. These would be great for anyone who works the night shift. Great giveaway!!
I did not know that curtains could be noise-reducing. I am stunned by that to be honest. I live on a farm so that would be great for me…..Thanks for the chance…
Hello! What fabulous curtains that I could definitely use in more than one room. I like their “Design Ideas” on their site. It gives various room names and hos they can be effective in that specific area. Our family could use these for our family room! A lot of light comes through with our sheers and our home sits on the main straight! Please enter my name in your drawing. Many thanks…..Cindi
I am subscribed to your feed! Thanks, Cindi
I’m already a subscriber. These are great!
Bettinas last blog post..Happy Halloween!
I like that the curtains could potentially bring about more restful sleep!
One thing I liked was the low prices – cheaper than traditional black out curtains that don’t claim to help on energy costs!
If this curtain can make the super’s dog in the courtyard more bearable – then this is what I need! It barks nonstop! And our windows are to the courtyard!
I really hope I win so that I can try it out. If it works, we’ll probably buy for all our other windows!
I just keep thinking about how great these would be in the kids rooms especially with daylight savings now!! But they also suggest they would make a lot of sense in the media room, which makes perfect sense! I hate TV glare when I’m watching a movie!
Pattis last blog post..As if you needed to be reminded
I love that they can Save up to 25% on home heating and cooling costs and reduce noise by up to 40%
I learned that so much energy and heat is lost through windows because they have the lowest insulation value of any element of the home
One curtain, so many different uses. Love their website. Very informative. I need these to keep the cold chill air away from my room!
Thanks.
Keyomis last blog post..Rainy Day and a new giveaway!
My husband works nights and sleeping during the day is a big problem for him This would be perfect for us! Plus we moved into a new home and could really use this.
MaryBeth Isaacs last blog post..Review and Giveaway: Pillsbury “Savoring the Moment”
I love the fact that these blackout curtains can also reduce noise. I never knew that! Our bedroom faces East and therefore the sun shines in bright and early in the morning, so blackout curtains would be a blessing…
I like that they block 40% more noise than regular curtains, and I LOVE that they block 99% of light!
I love that these not only block 99% of light but that they also reduce noise by up to 40%. The thought of getting some quiet, dark sleep sounds heavenly! Thanks!
They can reduce noise by up to 40%!!!! I totally need these for my youngest daughter!! Maybe she’d sleep past 5am.
I really like the ones they show in the bedroom, these would be great in my living room to block the light when I’m trying to watch TV
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Not sure about the claim that these curtains “Reduce stress levels”.
I do however like the noise and light reduction as well as the insulating properties.
I sooooo need these! I sleep with a mask especially now that the time has changed and the sun is coming out earlier. I love that they block almost all light and reduce noise (we live by a busy street). I love that they can save on heating/cooling costs. Did I mention how badly I need these?