Solar Insulating Window Film: Quick Savings Tip
If you enjoyed this post, keep yourself updated with all my latest posts:
Sign Up for Daily Morning Emails
Comments
this is great it’s a quick training of how to install a window film
Please substantiate your claim of keeping 30-50% of heat in during winter.
Nice walkthrough, and good point about the tax credit – didn’t know about that.
I must admit I’m sceptical of a blanket recommendation to install window films in climates where you have cold winters, though. A window film will reduce the heat gain from the Sun in the wintertime, and this can amount to a substantial saving in heating costs.
If the main purpose of the film is to prevent heat from entering the house, the film should be applied to the outside of your window. If the main purpose is to retain heat inside your house, it should be applied to the inside of your window. There are also films available that stick to the window by static cling, which means they could be removed as seasons change. I’m not sure if they’re as efficient as the professionally installed, permanent ones, though.
I would personally only recommend installing reflective film on your windows if you live in a warm climate, where you need to keep excess heat out of the house for most of the year.
There’s a whole bunch of other stuff you can do to keep your house cool in the summer heat and reduce your airconditioning bill, though – I’m currently writing a post series about this on my blog: http://www.renewablesathome.com/energy-conservation/green-home-cooling-mini-series
Thanks Rolf and Thomas. I actually just misinterpreted something and made sure to correct my post. I agree that window film does a much better job in the summer than during the winter. In the winter, it can better insulate your windows, but is not as effective as in warm temperatures.
Thats great to know you can apply a film to your existing windows and not have to go through the financial pain of replacing them entirely to gain the benefits. Some company (maybe 3M) is developing a film that can actually collect/convert the light from outside to energy. The tech is a ways away from being low cost for consumers but it’s very promising.
I like that you give a potential savings chart for this type of modification and also a DIY video. Great Advice
I am agree with the idea of window films at home. And it will be nice if we can make our home more interesting by using great combination of furniture. We can try to see, choose, and get the suitable ones.
Great article on window film, and some of the many benefits that can be done.