Energy Savings for Your Home

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 15% of the average home's wall space is made up of glass, which is a very poor insulator, and the average home wastes $63 per month on energy – $760 every year!

If rising utility costs have you worried,  window film is the most efficient way to reduce unwanted solar heat transferring through your windows. It can provide up 78% heat reduction, while controlling hotspots and sun-drenched areas in your home. You can save up to up to 50% on home cooling costs. See how much money you could save on your energy bills with our Window Film Energy Savings Calculator to the left.

Year-Round Window Film Energy Savings

Whether you are interested in lowering heating and cooling expenses by rejecting solar heat from the outside, eliminating hot and cold spots inside, or helping to prevent heat from escaping in the winter,  window film can help.

Applied to existing glass in windows and doors,  window film is an effective method to reduce peak demand during hot months and conserve energy anytime air conditioning might be required. Only a few degrees in temperature reduction can have a dramatic reduction in cooling costs. For cooler climate zones our low-e window films help to insulate glass and retain heat.

Home Window Tinting: 7 Benefits to Tinting YouHome Window Tinting: 7 Benefits to Tinting Your Windowsr

Windows add distinction, elegance and light to any home. However, window panes can be a great source of heat loss in the winter or heat gain in the summer. You may be faced with the options of adding window treatments or installing replacement windows to minimize this problem. There is, however, another option to consider - home window tinting! Besides sun control, residential window film can also do much to manage security concerns. Please continue reading to find out the seven benefits of using tint on your home's windows.
The 7 Benefits of Home Window Tinting:
1) Tinting minimizes heat and AC loss through windows, thus increasing energy savings. 2) It protects carpets, drapes and furniture from fading. 3) Tint cuts back on the sun's damaging UV rays by over 90%. 4) The tint makes windows safer, preventing injury and damage from broken glass. 5) It reduces glare that can be annoying. 6) Privacy 7) Tinting can be Decorative.
1) Increased Energy Savings
One of the primary benefits to tinting your residential windows it to lower your energy bills. How is this made possible? The window tint film minimizes heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer, which saves you money on fuel and electricity! It also lowers the loss of air conditioning in hotter months. This makes your windows more energy efficient and your rooms more comfortable to be in, all without changing your windows.
2) Tint Protects Furniture
We all long to have light fill our rooms and don't want to compromise the view by always needing to have our curtains closed just to prevent the sun from damaging our furniture. UV window film can greatly reduce the fading caused by the sun on your fabrics, carpet, artwork and wood. So, if fading has been an issue for you, stop running around opening and closing window treatments and get your windows professionally tinted. Then you can enjoy the light without the fear of furniture damage.
3) Cuts Back on the Sun's Damaging UV Rays
Who thinks to wear sun block inside their home? It's hard enough to remember to put it on when you are going out! Most people don't think about it when they are inside their own home. However, there is a simple way to protect your family from the the sun's damaging ultra violet rays when you are indoors. Have your windows covered with a window film by professional window tinters. Window films can reduce the sun's UV rays by over 90%, some even by 99%. Why add to your chances of getting skin related health problems when something so basic can be done?
4) Safety and Protection
An added reason to consider adding window tinting for your home is its security and safety feature. When a window that does not have a protective film is broken, glass fragments are sprayed throughout the room with risk of personal injury. Also, the resulting hole allows rain to enter the home and cause damage. On the other hand, windows with a security film stay attached to the film even when it is broken. This keeps the window sealed from the elements. The film also makes the window more resistant to breakage from day to day bangs and bumps.
Hurricane window film, or security window film, is a thicker gauge of film that offers greater protection to the home against violent storms, natural disasters and vandalism.
5) Reduces Glare
Direct sunlight is valuable in a home. It makes you feel great and reduces the need to use lights. Too much light can some times create a glare and make it difficult to work or relax with out closing the blinds. Window tint gets rid of significant glare, allowing you to make the most of the sunlight.
6) Privacy
Privacy window film can be added to windows to make areas private without sacrificing light. This film can be used in the bathroom, office, on kitchen cabinet doors, on glass door panels, or for windows that face the street. You can get tinting that gives you a clear view of outside, but prevents people from being able to see in..
7) Decorative
Window tinting can also add a decorative element to your home. The tinting can quite accurately imitate the look of expensive windows, but at a much lower cost. It can also easily be removed if you move or would like to change the look of the windows. Decorative window films even come with a mural and can be applied to a picture window for an instant view.
Use with Indoor Pools
Window tinting is also great for solariums and rooms with indoor pools because the film solves the problems of excessive glare, heat gain, and sun damage in these rooms where there are often so many windows. The film is also ideal for pool rooms and spas because it is moisture resistant and easy to clean and maintain.
Home Window Tinting Cost
Just as a poorly done auto tinting job may start to peel or be full of tiny bubbles - a poorly done residential tinting job will look bad and cheapen the look of your windows. Have your windows tinted by professional contractors! To find out what the home window tinting cost for your windows might be let us help you get free quotes from local window tinting contractors. Whether you want to tint all your windows, or do just select door and window tinting, you've come to the right place! Remember, window tinting is significantly cheaper than replacing your windows or buying expensive window treatments and - as you've seen from reading about the benefits - well worth the investment!

Basically, a window tint, or solar control film, is a very thin film usually made of a polyester base with a scratch-resistant coating. Some films involve multiple polyester layers to achieve their results. These films are still only millimet­ers thick and are affixed to the interior side of the window with an adhesive.

In order to create the sun barrier, manufacturers use different additives in special, usually patented formulations to create the desired characteristics. One type of film is dyed. This method for keeping the sunlight from affecting the interior environment of the home utilizes absorption of the sun's harmful rays. It should be noted that absorption of heat can increase the stress on the window's glass, which can periodically lead to glass breakage. According to the International Window Film Association's Web site, use of any window film will increase the thermal stress on sunlit glass [source: International Window Film Association]. For this reason, it's important to check the manufacturer's window restrictions before deciding on the appropriate film.

Two other types of window film work by reflecting a majority of the sun's harmful rays. One film is metalized, which means that the polyester base is embedded with different types of metals. The newest variety of film uses advanced ceramics to reflect sunlight.

Along with different methods for dealing with the sun, window films also come in many shades and colors. These can range from opaque to clear. Many of the tints available have a slight metallic look, such as bronze, stainless steel or gray. Some newer versions of window films are nearly clear. Along with style, color or shade can also offer other benefits. Tinted versions tend to offer more privacy, while the clearer films tend to be less reflective, giving less of a mirrored appearance in the evening.

Along with heat reduction, window film can also help you protect your investments. Curtains, furniture and even flooring can fall victim to the effects of the sun. One of the leading culprits in fading your valuables is ultraviolet light. To keep those home furnishings and decorations looking their best, a window film with a high percentage of ultraviolet light rejection would be a good choice. Many films can now block almost 99 percent of the sun's ultraviolet rays.

Ultraviolet light can not only fade your furniture, but too much of it can affect your health. Ultraviolet rays are the reason for sunburns and are also seen as one of the risk factors for cancer. According ­to the Report on Carcinogens released by the Department of Health and Human Services, ultraviolet radiation is a known human carcinogen [source: National Institutes of Health]. For working to prevent sun-induced skin damage, several types of window film have even been given the Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation [source:The Skin Cancer Foundation].

Some window films offer another benefit in the area of safety: shatter resistance. The film's shatter resistance comes from its ability to hold glass shards together and act as a barrier between the interior of the home and the glass.

Along with the safety benefits, window films can also help to reduce the glare on your television when viewing the big game. The percentage of glare reduction is usually related to the visible light transmittance. The lower the amount of light transmitted through the film, the greater the glare reduction inside the home.

While a darker film can offer more glare reduction and privacy, a clearer film offers a more natural view from the window. Darker films can also have higher values for reflectivity. Reflectivity can be beneficial when reflecting the sunlight, but it can be less desirable when the view out of your windows at night includes a shadowed version of the room's interior.