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Window Tinting

Solar Control Window Films: A Big Energy Saver

As Americans have increasingly sought natural illumination, expansive views and sunshine for their homes, windows have become larger and more numerous to the point that, today, they represent a very significant element in home energy bills. A recent study shows that some 40 percent of a home's heat use is a result of its window space, and approximately half of a home's utility bill can be attributed to heat gain and loss through glass.

Cooling the home in summer with air conditioning to combat solar heat gain and heating in winter to reduce indoor heat loss are the primary energy uses for most homes. For ultimate protection and energy conservation, many consumers are turning to solar film for energy savings, to reduce the fading effects of sunlight, and for daytime privacy while only using blinds or drapes for nighttime privacy.

Solar Primer

Sunshine, or visible light, is only one part of solar energy, the other parts being harmful ultraviolet rays and infrared radiation, which is felt as heat. Infrared heat represents more than half of the sun's energy.

Solar energy must be reflected, absorbed, or transferred. Single pane window glass blocks less than 25% of the UV rays that damage skin and fade drapes, carpets and furnishings. It reflects less than 8% of the visible light and heat while absorbing only 5%. Roughly 87% of solar energy passes through. While dual pane glass is better for noise and heat insulation, it still is only slightly better at reducing the radiation of the suns heat.

With solar film, we can reduce harmful ultraviolet by up to 99%, heat by 75%, and visible light can be allowed to enter our home in just the amount we need. The diversity of the many films available allows us to find a film tailored to our needs.

Sophisticated Products

Each year more sophisticated films come onto the market. Among these are films designed specifically to meet heat problems. The state-of-the-art window films are the sputtered metal films. One such film lets through 35% of the visible light (not too dark) is low in reflectance, and rejects over 60% of the suns heat.

All window films will help hold glass together in the event of breakage. Some safety films will increase the strength of glass up to 300% and are also available as "solar films".

Check that the solar film you purchase has a durable, scratch-resistant coating and carries a manufacturers warranty. Warranties range from 5, 7, 10 years up to lifetime and cover bubbling, peeling and delaminating.

One of the most important considerations in selecting the best window film for a particular need is the shading coefficient, which is a measure of the efficiency of a window systems solar control capability. The shading coefficient is expressed as the ratio of the solar heat gained through any given window system to the solar heat gain that would occur under the same conditions if the window were made of clear, unshaded, double-strength window glass. The lower the shading coefficient the greater the capacity of the window to control heat.

Installation

Window film is installed as a retrofit item on the interior of the windows, and is best applied by professional installers. In many cases, installation can be done without interrupting the day-to- day activities of the home owner.

Today, makers of solar control window films offer a wide range of energy-balanced films from which to choose. Choose a licensed contractor whom is knowledgeable in all of the attributes of solar film and can help you choose the right film or a combination of films to best suit your needs.