I did a lot of research into window coverings when we moved into our house. Most of the windows are new, energy-efficient ones, but we have a few that are the original windows (and therefore nearly 60 years old). Replacing those windows is on our list of things to do, but they're incredibly expensive to replace (one very large window in the living room will cost $3,000 alone for the window and installation. Ouch!).
So it was important that I find energy-efficient window coverings to help lessen the energy loss of those old windows (and for the newer ones, too), and I decided on double cell honeycomb shades for all of the bedroom windows and one large window in the basement. There are tons of sites and brick-and-mortar stores that sell them, but I ordered ours from SelectBlinds.com (which also has an article describing the pros and cons of this style of shade). I was nervous to measure for the shades (they're custom-made, so you can't return them) and install them myself, but both steps were easy to do. The measuring is very important, both for fit and for energy efficiency -- air can come in and out on the sides, so minimizing the gaps makes them more energy efficient.
They've worked really well in the bedrooms, but that article highlights a downside: you can't see through them. So when we replace that big window in the living room, I think we'll go with a roller shade (something like this) that blocks the sun's glare but allows us to see out.
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