To save on high gas bills, I replaced the curtains on the Northwest side of my home with black 3 mil paper. The paper absorbs the heat from the sun and prevents the leaking of warm air inside to the outside. My solar project worked! Many of my neighbors gas bills went up 30%-50% we had a big increase in CCFs but mine decreased $5-$10 compared to the previous cheaper year! The black 3 mil paper cost less than $5 and easily paid itself back in less than a month! I will definitely be doing this again this fall!
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Where do you buy this black 3 mil paper?
How do you get daylight/sunshine into your home with the windows covered in black paper? Do you attach them to a roller and pull them down only at night or do you have your windows covered all of the time?
Can you put this on paper on the double pane windows?
I want to know where to get and how to use it, as I've never heard of it. This is a terrific tip! Thanks a bunch!!
The black 3 mil paper can be purchased at any hardware store, walmart, etc. It is similiar to garbage bags but is stronger. The windows will get hot to the touch on a sunny day. I leave them up til Spring because you want the sun's heat to stay at the window and eliminate any air flow. Measure your window and cut out black mil paper. I hang mine up with masking tape because the paper is lightweight. The secret is to leave a one inch gap at the bottom of the window. This somehow keeps the air circulating. The bottom does not need to be taped down and should hang loosely. I forgot to clarify that my previous year's CCF's cost .87 and increased the next year to 1.28.
You could have the same thing with rolled blinds made out of all kinds of materials and use them all year long while also having something a little more decorative. Some of the hardware stores have nice selections of these durning the summer.
What is black 3 mil paper?
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