How to Save on Home Energy Costs this Summer with Window Films

With Summer just around the corner, we wanted to share some ways that window films can help save you on home energy costs this season. While Summer is a favorite time of the year for many people, the high temperatures can cause your utility bills to skyrocket. In this article, we wanted to discuss how window film can reduce the load on your air conditioning system which saves you money on utility bills and also system maintenance. First, we wanted to explain how window film works to reduce the load on your air conditioning system. Simply, window film reduces the amount of heat that is coming into your home through the windows. During the middle of the day, when the Sun is the most intense, you air conditioning system might be struggling just to keep up with the demand. Unfortunately, this demand for air conditioning is also happening all throughout your area at the same time. This causes a peak demand period for energy and the utility company and enables them to charge a premium on the energy you use during this period. The good news is that 

window film is most effective at precisely this time by reducing the heat making its way into your home through the windows. This reduction in heat coming in translates to your air conditioning not having to work as hard, and use as much energy, to keep your home comfortable.

In addition, by reducing the heat entering the home, the air conditioning system will not need to run constantly to keep up. This not only saves you money on energy costs, but will also save you maintenance money from wear and tear on your air conditioning unit. Any air conditioning unit is made of of numerous components that each have an effective service life. The longer, and harder, a unit is forced to run, the faster these parts wear out and need replacing. Also, as parts degrade they often do not work as efficiently as they did when new. This inefficiency translates into more energy being needed to get the same results in home cooling.

We hope this brief article helped shed some light on how window film can be a vital component in helping you save on home energy costs this Summer and for many years to come. If you would like more information about window film and how they can be implemented into your home, contact us by calling 800-488-5099 or emailing us at sales@controlthesun.com.

Here Comes the Sun! Window Film Makes it Alright!

Hopefully the title of this article has The Beatles tune playing in the back of your head. That is what I was thinking about when I sat down to write this article. Summer is coming, and with it, we have the long daylight hours with plenty of sun. While most of us look forward to this time of the year, and all the fun things that it brings, that extra sun can also play havoc in your home, with your health and on your budget. In this article I wanted to focus on three ways that window film can help make all that extra sun alright.

• • Window Film Can Saves Money on Energy Costs - The extra sun that Summer brings also often brings high utility bills because your air conditioning system is working overtime. Through the use of modern window films, you can dramatically reduce the amount of heat entering your home through the glass and subsequently reduce how hard your AC unit has to work to keep the home cool. If your AC system is working less, you are using less energy and your utility bills will reflect that savings.
    In addition, although not specifically a utility bill, your AC unit working less throughout the Summer can extend the service life of that unit and reduce maintenance costs. So, window film can actually save both on the energy cost of running the AC and the maintenance costs associated with the usage of your AC.

• • Window Film Can Make Your Home More Comfortable - The longer Summer days can also bring about things that make your home less comfortable. Specifically, many homeowners deal with excessive glare and hot spots in the home at this time of the year. Whether it is for watching TV, using a computer or just kicking back with your favorite book, glare can make a room an uncomfortable place to be. By using window films strategically in your home, you can reduce the glare in rooms where that is an issue.
    Additionally, does your home suffer from hot and cold spots at this time of the year because one side is in sun most of the day while the other side is in the shade? You can use window film on the side of the home with excessive sun to reduce the heat entering in that area and equalize temperature throughout the home.

• • Window Film Can Preserve Your Furnishings and Your Health - The extra sun that Summer brings can also bring about fading issues with your flooring and furniture. Most windows offer no protection from the UV rays pouring through that account for a full 40% of the factors that cause fading. With modern window films, even the lightest shades block 99+% of the UV rays from entering through the windows. By eliminating this major cause of fading, you have taken a major step to extend the life of your flooring and furnishings.
    Also, The Skin Cancer Foundation has warned that this UV entering your home can also be detrimental to your health. In an article, they state,
    
    "While it’s understood that taking sun safety precautions is important outside, few people realize they can sustain sun damage indoors, too. While both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from the sun can harm the skin and lead to skin cancers, UVB is effectively blocked by glass. However, at least 50 percent of UVA rays can pass through windows. Window film is an increasingly effective solution, offering substantial indoor protection by blocking up to 99.9 percent of UVA radiation."
    
    The use of window film can help block these harmful UV rays and preserve your health in this area. You can read the entire article from The Skin Cancer Foundation by clicking HERE

So, be prepared to welcome in the sun this Summer by preparing your home with a modern window film. If you are interested in discussing the options available for improving your home with window film, contact us by calling 800-488-5099 or emailing us at sales@controlthesun.com.

Window Insulation for Home Comfort and Energy Efficiency

We wanted to share this great proof of technology regarding our 3M Thinsulate window film and how it can improve your home comfort and energy efficiency. This client has a variety of windows that they wanted to insulate from the heat leaving in the Winter and the Heat entering in the Summer. We arranged to have a thermal infrared camera to capture the effects the film was having and the results were eye opening. In the picture above, you can see the windows above the sink. The one on the left has 3M Thinsulate installed and the one of the right does not. You can see from the infrared image that the treated window is retaining the heat and is providing valuable insulation. The untreated window is allowing the heat to escape through the glass as seen by the dark reddish/purple color of the window pane. The blue areas show that the window frame and walls in some areas are not even insulating as well as the treated glass now is.

The best part, is that once 3M Thinsulate is installed, you can barely detect anything is even on the glass. The picture shown is of these same windows. The one on the left is treated and the one on the right has not been treated yet.

The owner of the of the home was the individual that wanted the proof of technology via the thermal infrared camera. After the product was installed and he saw the images, he had this to say about how the 3M Thinsulate Window Film worked.

For decades, insulation has been used in the walls and ceilings of our homes to control the flow of heat between inside and out. 3M Thinsulate Climate Control Window Film works much in the same way. It improves the insulation value of a typical single pane window to that of a double pane window and a double pane window to a triple pane window. This improves home comfort by keeping the warmth in during the winter and the heat out in the summer.

Some of the benefits of 3M Thinsulate Climate Control Window Film are:

• Helps keep you warm during cold winter months.
• Good heat rejection provides additional comfort and energy savings in the summer months.
• Film offers high visible light transmission with a neutral appearance to help maintain a home's existing appearance.
• Significantly blocks the amount of harmful UV rays that cause fading, helping to extend the life of furnishings.
• Includes a comprehensive warranty from 3M.

If you are interested in controlling the climate and increasing your home comfort and energy efficiency, and would like more information on 3M Thinsulate Home Window Film, Contact ABC Sun Control by calling 800-488-5099 or emailing us at sales@controlthesun.com.

It’s Not to Late to Improve Your Home with 3M Thinsulate Window Film

It's never too late to improve your home with 3M Thinsulate Window Film. Whether it is cold outside and you are trying to keep the heat in, or it is warm outside and you are trying to keep the heat out, 3M Thinsulate Window Film is the answer. This revolutionary film acts as insulation for your windows and improves their performance in both Winter and Summer. Here is a list of the benefits this 3M Window Film can do.

• Helps keep you warm during cold winter months.
• Good heat rejection provides additional comfort and energy savings in the summer months.
• Film offers high visible light transmission with a neutral appearance to help maintain a home's existing appearance.
• Significantly blocks the amount of harmful UV rays that cause fading, helping to extend the life of furnishings.
• Includes a comprehensive warranty from 3M.

This virtually invisible insulation enhances comfort and efficiency year round. This unique window film helps retain warmth in the winter and cool air in the summer by increasing your windows’ insulation value. A single-pane performs close to a double-pane, a double-pane performs close to a triple-pane. If you would like more information on 3M Thinsulate Home Window Film, Contact ABC Sun Control by calling 800-488-5099 or emailing us at sales@controlthesun.com.

Five Things That Can Be Damaged By The Sun In Your Home

The sun gives off UV rays that can be rather harmful. Most people use sunblock because of this very reason — to help protect their skin. However, are you aware that these same harmful UV rays can damage things that are inside of your home? It’s true. Just because there are windows in your house that are blocking some of the UV rays that the sun gives off, that does not mean your furnishings are 100% safe. In fact, that is far from the case.

Luckily, inventions like window film exist. Not only can window film help reduce the rate of fading, which we will cover in greater detail later, but they help to eliminate excessive heat and glare from the sun. Can you imagine a world where your TV doesn’t have any signs of glare during the middle of the day? That life is possible with window film.

You might be wondering how window film works, and how it can actually help protect furnishings in your home from sun damage. Here are the exact ways 3M Window Films help reduce rate of fading:

• Block up to 99% of harmful UV rays — the principal cause of fading
• Reject solar heat, which can continually heat fabrics and other surfaces, causing them to break down and discolor over time
• Filter visible light, which can accelerate fading

There are plenty of bonuses with window film. For instance, this great technology can help lower energy costs and eliminate hot spots. Everyone has that one room in their home that they don’t go in during the day because it is filled with heat from the sun shining in. With 3M Window Films by ABC Sun Control, these hot spots can help to be reduced.

Five things that can be damaged by the sun in your home

• Fabrics and upholstery
• Window treatments
• Wallpaper
• Natural wood floors
• Photos , paintings and other furnishing.

3M Window Films are a brilliant option to help preserve these items for a longer period of time. Don’t let the sun fade and ruin your furnishings. If they aren’t protected, they can be very expensive to replace. You may not notice your furniture fading after a week of sun exposure, but you will see a difference over time as your furnishings start to fade. Window treatments help reduce hot spots, glare and sun damage to your belongings but that comes with a cost. With window treatments, natural light and your view is also being blocked out. With 3M Window Films, you continue to maintain your view and let the light in.

There is a way to protect your furniture, art, hardwood floors and other furnishings in your home, and that starts and ends with 3M Window Films by ABC Sun Control. If you are interested in learning more, contact us by calling 800-488-5099 or emailing us at sales@controlthesun.com.

Protection from Sun-Caused Faded Floors and Furnishings

Furnishing a home can be expensive. From flooring to furnishings, the costs can add up quick. With so much invested, doesn't it make sense to take steps to protect that investment? While we all love open and airy homes with lots of windows, the biggest threat to your floors and furnishings can be right outside those same windows, the Sun. The sun is one of the primary causes of faded floors and furnishings. Most people do not want to sacrifice their views and the open feeling of their home to protect their floors and furniture from the sun, so what can be done? One of the best ways to attack the primary causes of sun damage and fading is with window film. This article will examine exactly what causes the fading and damage to occur and how window film is a great solution to consider.

A common misconception is that UV rays are what cause faded floors and sun damage to furnishings. While they are certainly the largest component, as this chart illustrates, they only account for 40%. Solar heat and visible lights are also major contributors, accounting for 25% of the problem. The last factor is comprised of a variety of this we simply put under the heading "Other". These are things like interior lighting, humidity, etc.

The first thing this chart demonstrates is that you cannot "stop" fading completely unless the item you want to protect in a dark, climate controlled room. In real life, the most you can do is attack the major contributors of fading in a significant enough way to slow down the process. By slowing the process, you extend the life of your floors or furnishings.

Why Is Window Film a Good Solution?

As mentioned above, most people do not want to "close-up" their home in an effort to stop the damage from occurring. So, assuming the windows will not be covered, you need to attack the factors before they enter the home. Window film is a great option because it attacks all three major contributors of fading. Most professionally installed window films will block 99%+ of the UV rays. In addition, many window films can significantly reduce the heat coming through the window. Finally, it is possible to block up to 60% of the visible light coming through a window without noticeably darkening the window. When you combine these three factors, you can take a large slice out of the pie shown above. This protection can be accomplished while retaining the open feel of your home by using window film.

We hope this brief article shed some light on what the factors of faded floors, rugs and furniture are and how utilizing window film is one of your best options to address this issue. If you are interested in learning more, contact ABC Sun Control by calling 800-488-5099 or emailing us at sales@controlthesun.com.

Six Crystal Clear Window Film Facts

This is an excerpt from an interesting article from The Denver Post that discusses how window films can be used to save you money. We wanted to share with you the six window film facts that they spelled out in the article.

Six Crystal-Clear Window Film Facts

1. Color-Neutral Options – “If you don’t want to change the color of your home’s natural light or see any metallic shine, ask for a color-neutral day-lighting film,” said the International Window Film Association's Darell Smith. Your windows will save energy, but give up next to nothing in light quality.

2. Lower bills – In hot weather, solar-control films can block up to 80 percent of the solar energy coming through windows, which cuts down on air conditioning. “It usually translates into a year-round savings of about 5 to 10 percent of the home’s total energy bill,” said Smith, and much more during hot months.

3. Damage Shield – Visible light lies on the spectrum between ultraviolet, which damages furniture, and infrared, which beams heat. Treated windows will block 99 percent of UVA and UVB rays, thus greatly slowing the deterioration and fading of drapes, carpet and furniture.

4. Decorative Looks – Today’s window films can also inexpensively make clear glass look etched or frosted for privacy or a decorative effect.

5. It’s Not a Fix – If your window is in bad shape, leaking or poorly insulated, adding film won’t fix that. Deteriorating windows should be replaced. However, if your windows are in good shape, don’t replace them just for energy efficiency, said Smith. Try film first.

6. Get a Warranty on the Work – And read it before you sign a contract. You should be protected against bad installations. Signs of a bad job include film that peels or lifts at the edges, or little bubbles growing under the film. Speaking of warranties, many window manufacturers will invalidate their warranty if you do anything to their windows, including adding window film. If your windows are still under warranty, find out how adding film will affect that protection. Get it in writing.

To read the complete article, click HERE

We hope this article shed some light on all the ways Window Film can be used to improve and enhance your home. If you would like any additional information about Home Window Film, contact ABC Sun Control by calling 800-488-5099 or emailing us at sales@controlthesun.com.

Insulate Your Windows with 3M Thinsulate Home Window Film

Home in Gig Harbor, Washington Controls the Climate with 3M Thinsulate Home Window Films

We recently had the pleasure to help the homeowner of the beautiful house in pictures above insulate their windows with 3M Thinsulate home window film. Many homes, like this one in Gig Harbor, Washington, have a great deal of glass. These exposes of glass are great for views, but not so good for home comfort. Often a home will have hot or cold spots depending on where windows and vents are located. You have insulation for the walls and the roof, why not your windows? Well, finally there is an answer, 3M Thinsulate Home Window Film. Best of all, it can be barely noticeable on your glass.

3M Thinsulate Home Window Films Improve Your House in These Three Ways

• Control the Climate - 3M Thinsulate Climate Control Window Film helps keep the warmth in during the winter and the cool conditioned air in during the summer -- keeping the weather out where it belongs – all season, every season. This window film helps reduce cold/hot spots in your home, improving overall comfort for you and your family.
• Increase Efficiency - 30% of all energy used to heat and cool homes in the U.S. escapes through the windows. 3M Thinsulate Climate Control Window Film is a low emissivity or “low-e” window film which improves the insulation value of a typical single pane window close to that of a double pane window and the insulation value of a typical double pane window close to a triple pane window. This film will make your windows more efficient and save you money on energy costs at a fraction of the cost of replacing your windows.
• Maintain Appearance - 3M Thinsulate Climate Control Window film is a virtually invisible film that provides comfort and fade protection without dramatically changing the look of your windows. This film blocks up to 99% of the sun’s UV rays, thereby helping to reduce fading of furniture, upholstery, hardwood floors, and window treatments.

We hope this post shed some light on all the ways 3M Thinsulate Home Window Films can be used to improve and enhance your home. If you would like any additional information about 3M Thinsulate Home Window Film, Contact ABC Sun Control by calling 800-488-5099 or emailing us at sales@controlthesun.com.

Don't Replace Windows, Upgrade them with 3M Thinsulate Window Film

Are you considering the costly proposition of replacing your old windows with something more energy efficient? If so, you should give 3M™ Thinsulate Window Film a look. This virtually invisible film is like insulation for your windows. You will enhance comfort and efficiency year round with this unique low-e window film that helps retain warmth in the winter and cool air in the summer by increasing your windows’ insulation value. A single-pane performs close to a double-pane, a double-pane performs close to a triple-pane.

Because the film is virtually invisible, the look of your window barely changes, inside or out, yet it still helps protect furniture, floors, upholstery and artwork from UV rays that cause fading. Easier and more affordable than replacing your windows, 3M Thinsulate Window Film is an efficient, cost-effective way to meet your window insulation needs.

3M Thinsulate Window Film Details

1. Helps keep you warm during cold winter months.
2. Good heat rejection provides additional comfort and energy savings in the summer months.
3. Film offers high visible light transmission with a neutral appearance to help maintain a home's existing appearance.
4. Significantly blocks the amount of harmful UV rays that cause fading, helping to extend the life of furnishings.
5. Includes a comprehensive warranty from 3M.

We would be happy to discuss how 3M Thinsulate Climate Control Window Film can be implemented into your home and begin helping you save on home energy costs. If you would like any additional information about 3M Thinsulate Climate Control Window Film and the many ways they can be used, Contact ABC Sun Control by calling 800-488-5099 or emailing us at sales@controlthesun.com.

3M Home Window Film Options

3M Home Window Film Options

ABC Sun Control, Inc. is a well-established window tinting expert in the Seattle area that works with the goal of providing customers with the right window films to suit their unique needs. We are an authorized 3M window film dealer that offers 3M Home Window Film options that do the following things.

• Eliminate Excessive Heat
• Retain Heat in the Winter
• Reduce High Energy Costs
• Cut Harsh Glare
• Help Eliminate Faded Furnishings
• Add Decorative and Privacy Elements
• Increase Home Safety & Security

Whether you want window film for creating a solar heat barrier in the Summer, retaining heat in the Winter, cutting harsh glare or helping extend the life of your furnishings, we have just the 3M window film to do this for you.

Eliminate Excessive Heat

While curtains and blinds are great for privacy and help to block some heat, they do so at the cost of natural light. 3M™ Window Films help eliminate hot spots while preserving the view, making every seat in the house guest-worthy.

• Reject the sun’s heat while preserving your view
• Complement and protect your decorative curtains and blinds
• Increase the comfort of your home

Retain Heat in the Winter

Insulate your windows from penetratingly cold temperatures with 3M Thinsulate Window Films. It’s like upgrading from single-pane to double-pane or from double-pane to triple-pane windows.

• Reflect and disperse heat back into the room
• Reduce cold spots
• Improve comfort during cold winter months
• Save on heating and cooling costs year round

Reduce High Energy Costs

Give your cooling system — and your wallet — a break with 3M™ Sun Control Window Films. Stay cool and comfortable all day long by rejecting up to 78% of the sun’s heat coming through your windows.

• Reduce home cooling costs up to 30%
• Use less energy
• Let in the light without the heat

Cut Harsh Glare

Enjoy natural light while reading or watching TV — without suffering from eyestrain caused by glare. Seeing clearly will improve your efficiency when working (or playing) on a laptop, computer or other mobile devices.

• Enjoy every room in your home from sunrise to sunset
• Reclaim sunny rooms for work or relaxation

Eliminate Premature Fading of Furnishings

Ways 3M Home Window Film helps reduce rate of fading:

• Block up to 99% of harmful UV rays — the principal cause of fading
• Reject solar heat, which can continually heat fabrics and other surfaces, causing them to break down and discolor over time
• Filter visible light, which can accelerate fading

Add Decorative and Privacy Elements

Enhance your privacy while customizing your space with 3M Decorative Window Films. Ideal for foyers, entryways, partitions, shower doors, bathroom windows, verandas or other glass surfaces. 3M Decorative Window Films are available in a variety of patterns from subtle to sophisticated design statements.

• Let natural light in while enhancing privacy
• Create an open feel, even in small spaces
• Create the illusion of etched, treated or texturized glass with 3M Fasara Films
• Get the elegant look of textured glass with 3M Crystal Glass Finishes

Increase Home Safety & Security

Get an added layer of protection while preserving the appearance of your home and windows with 3M Safety & Security Window Films. They make windows harder to penetrate and help hold glass fragments together after impact from break-ins, natural disasters — or even wayward baseballs.

• Reduce the potential of injury from flying glass
• Impede robbers and burglars with windows that are harder to break and enter
• Guard against natural causes of window impact

We hope this article shed some light on all the ways 3M Home Window Film can be used to improve and enhance your home. If you would like any additional information about 3M Home Window Film, Contact ABC Sun Control by calling 800-488-5099 or emailing us at sales@controlthesun.com.