I've had Ficus benjamina on both east and west windowsills with net curtains and they're fine (we don't have any south-facing windows so that's not even an option). The double glazing is pretty good at keeping out the cold though.
I read a lot about keeping houseplants away from windows especially during the colder months and there's more fluctuation in temperatures, but I must agree with you that our double glazing seems to do enough to stop them perishing! We are based in the South East so I guess it will depend on where you are and how cold it gets, so it's always worth seeing what works for your plants in your own environment.
"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need"
Your Ficus would make a good alternative to net curtains, @Obelixx... when my dad retired my parents moved into an old cottage which had some windows overlooking the street, with the pavement just outside. Dad hated net curtains, so he made some wooden troughs the same height as the window sills, and repotted all his Sanseverias so they made a nice green "buffer" between passers-by and the dining room. It didn't take long before they made a complete screen.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
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