I've never heard that Solar Shades are to be used on the exterior only and I've seen plenty of use on double pane windows within the house. If a shade had an insulating effect and was sealed along the edges or had sealed side tracks, then that would not be safe to use with double pane. Solar screens are just that.....screens. They go outside the window just as any other type of screen is used. Roller shades can be decorative lightweight window coverings, but the term 'roller' is also used for the Solar Shades since they are usually on some type of roller system. It sounds like Solar Shades will fit your need. Here is a link that might be useful: Interior Shades

slowjane, we have a retractable awning for an east facing room on our house in Northern California and we love it. We were using the room as a nursery and in the summer it would be uncomfortably hot by late morning just when the baby wanted a nap -- the awning solved that. As a bonus, our patio is now useable in the summer. Ours was probably around $1000? ordered through Costco, but it is motorized and I'm guessing it's 12-15 ft wide (it spans a set of French doors and two additional windows). I'd guess you might get a manual retractable awning for a single window for a lot less? Good luck.

I'm wondering about the same shades - I need a solar screen but don't want to introduce PVC inside the house - already too many toxic chemicals in the cocktail we breath. I love the idea of catching the heat before it penetrates the glass. Does anyone have any experience with these outdoor shades? Do they blow around in the wind? Are they easy to operate? How much of the view do they obscure? Do they work? I also read someplace that they can only be all-up or all-down, no inbetween settings. Is this true? Can't have the shade only half-closed? Thanks.

Our Habitat Screens carry fabric densities of 5%, 10%, and 45%. It might be prudent to consider getting a thicker screen for more privacy and sun protection.