Save Energy, Reduce Utility Bills & Keep Cool This Summer With Window Film

Even though this Winter did its best to hang on, the warmer temperatures of Summer are on the way. We recently came across an article in Forbes Magazine entitled "Six Tips To Save Energy, Reduce Bills And Keep Cool During Summer". This article discussed several strategies that could be implemented, but number two on the list was installing window film. The article states, "External window film prevents the heat of the sun from penetrating the window, while internal window film prevents heat from transferring to the space. Studies have shown that filming your windows results in a 60% heat reduction."

It is great to see window films being recognized as a cost effective, energy saving retrofit. With modern window film technology, you can achieve great heat rejection without noticeably changing the appearance of your existing windows. By reducing the heat entering your space, you save energy and reduce bills because your HVAC system does not need to work as hard to keep up with demand. Depending on the type of windows installed at your facility, it is possible to see energy savings pay for the window film installation within the first 24 months after install.

In addition, window film is at its most effective during peak times of the day. The article also mentions the strategy of reducing electrical consumption in peak load hours saying,

"Daily summer temperatures are highest between 2:30 and 3:30 in the afternoon. Consequently, air conditioning equipment consumes much more power than usual during this peak..".

In many cases, energy rates during peak hours of the day are at their highest, so anything you can do to cut demand during these peak times has a larger impact on the overall energy costs. With window film blocking a large portion of heat from coming through the glass during these peak hours, you are reducing your energy demand at the very best time of the day.

You can check out the complete Six Tips To Save Energy, Reduce Bills And Keep Cool During Summer article in Forbes by clicking HERE.

If you would like to learn more how commercial window film options can help save energy, reduce bills and keep you cool this Summer, click HERE and contact us by calling 800-488-5099 or emailing us at sales@controlthesun.com. We would be happy to provide a free, no obligation consultation and estimate of implementing an energy saving window film solution in your space. We service Seattle, Washington and the surrounding communities.

Utilizing Window Films to Improve School Security & Student Safety

In a very recent article entitled Designing Schools As a Deterrent For Mass Shooters in Interiors + Sources Magazine, the topic of improving school security and safety by utilizing facility design and retrofittable technologies like security window films to make it harder for someone to commit violent attacks in a school environment was discussed. One item that was raised in the article was the topic of making it harder for someone to commit the crime by hardening the facility to restrict entry. From the article, Sean Ahrens, security market group leader for Affiliated Engineering Incorporated (AEI), said, “Regrettably, in this day and age, [those who don’t think it could happen to them] are the weakest neighbors. When you think of an aggressor, [they think in] the path of least resistance. Are they going to go to the most hardened facility, or are they going to go to the facility that’s easiest to get into?”

With respect to hardening a facility and making it harder to gain entry, this is precisely what security window films do. In a recent article in Business Insider entitled Here are the Best Ways to Protect Schools, Workplaces, and Ourselves from Active Shooters, the author states “Protective and intrusion resistant doors and windows create delays in an aggressor’s ability to gain entry. For pre-existing locations the addition of protective window film, improved locking mechanisms and / or frames as well as other reinforcement techniques can be effective.”

Security window films are installed as a retrofit to a school's existing doors and windows. These films can come clear, tinted or reflective depending on the application and preference. When someone tries to gain access through the glass of a protected door or window, the security window film would allow the glass to break, but it would maintain the glass in the frame. With work, this film / glass combination can eventually be penetrated to gain access, but as stated above, the objective is to create resistance. Slow the entry down. Give school officials and authorities time to act.

In the Interiors + Sources article, Julia McFadden, AIA—associate principal at Svigals + Partners who recently designed the new Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn. stated, “You want to have layers between someone who may be coming to the school with ill intent and the vulnerable population. The more opportunities or barriers gives you more time to react and determine if there is ill intent before they reach the target." She goes on to say "Retrofit situations may call for applied window films or improved glazing. Interior partitions and some furnishing may also improve the school’s readiness in emergency situations.”

The hard realities of a tragedy like a violent attack at a school is that there is not a one size fits all solution. As these articles discuss, solutions to improve school security must be thought of in layers. We must make a school an unattractive target for any potential aggressor. The design and technologies utilized must work together to buy the individuals inside the school and authorities time to respond to the threat. In these situations, every moment matters. While we do not claim that security window films are the sole solution, they can provide a valuable layer of protection that works in conjunction with other design elements and technologies to improve school security and student safety.

If you would like more information about security window films and how they can help with school security and safety, click HERE and contact us by calling 800-488-5099 or emailing us at sales@controlthesun.com. We would be happy to provide you with a property assessment and estimate on implementing security window films in your Seattle, Washington area school.

ABC Sun Control Helps Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, WA with a Graffiti Vandalism Problem

The team at ABC Sun Control helped the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma Washington protect valuable glass panels throughout the facility from being damaged by graffiti vandalism. These panels of glass are extremely expensive and not easy to replace. A clear 3M Anti-Graffiti Film was used to prevent the underlying glass from being damaged. This not only saves the Zoo a tremendous amount of money, it also reduces the disruption of the attractions that would occur if the glass needed to be replaced.

Vandalism has a way of spreading. The best way to mitigate more vandalism from occurring is to quickly remedy any that happens. The great thing about 3M Anti-Graffiti Film is that it allows you to quickly remove the damaged piece and replace it with a new piece. This saves not only time, money and disruption, it likely also prevents further damage from occurring.

In this cool video, "Dozer" the walrus was checking out our team installing the film on one of his tank windows.

[embed]https://youtu.be/1qRjNG0Vfok[/embed]

We hope that you enjoyed the post and the video. If you would like any additional information about 3M Anti-Graffiti Films and how they can protect you from graffiti vandalism, contact ABC Sun Control by calling 800-488-5099 or emailing us at sales@controlthesun.com.

Wing Luke Museum Uses 3M Window Film to Protect and Preserve

The Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience is a history museum located in Seattle's Chinatown-International District. They are a Smithsonian Institute affiliate dedicated to engaging the public to explore issues related to the culture, art and history of Asian Pacific Americans. Recently, the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle, Washington called ABC Sun Control in to help them combat fading and graffiti with 3M Window Film. After reviewing the concerns and the property, we recommended a 3M Prestige 50 film to help combat the fading of the displays and a 3M Anti-Grafitti AG4 to protect the storefront glass from vandalism.

The benefit to a 3M Window Film such as these is that they provide the required level of protection while virtually being undetectable on the glass. The Prestige 50 film blocks a combination of heat, visible light and UV rays to help protect the displayed pieces from fading. The Anti-Graffiti AG-4 is a sacrificial layer of film placed on the outside of the glass that can be removed if the window is tagged, protecting the underlying window surface. Check out some additional pictures from this project below. We were proud to be called in to help on such a terrific project here is Seattle.

We would be happy to discuss how 3M Prestige Window Films and 3M Anti-Grafitti Window Films can be implemented into your facility and begin helping protect and preserve what is important to you.. If you would like any additional information about these films and the many ways they can be used, Contact ABC Sun Control by calling 800-488-5099 or emailing us at sales@controlthesun.com.