Energy efficient window film

[BrettS]

Does anyone have any experience with heat reducing/energy efficient window film? Like this stuff - http://www.gilafilms.com/Residential/windo...at-titanium.htm

They claim it can reduce summer cooling costs by $99 per year or even more... and since I'm now living in Florida I'm looking to do all I can to reduce my cooling costs. The cost isn't bad... about $35 for 45 square feet at Lowes or Home Depot and even now in March I can definitely see the effect of solar heating in some of the rooms in my house - I hate to imagine what it will be like in August.

Has anyone used this product or something like it? Does it work well?

Thanks,
Brett

 

[aehusted]

I would also like to hear from anyone with experience using this type of film that works for both summer and winter.

Also, they mention on the site that the lifetime is limited due to UV exposure. Does this only mean that the UV blocking suffers (as they seem to suggest) or would this cause the overall efficiency to deteriorate over time? This project does not look as attractive if it includes replacing the film every 5-10 years...

 

[DeLicious]

i'm also interested in this... i have several rooms in the house that are hotter during the summer and colder in the winter than the rest of the house... plus, tax breaks

 

[drozwood90]

I would also like to hear from anyone with experience using this type of film that works for both summer and winter.

Also, they mention on the site that the lifetime is limited due to UV exposure. Does this only mean that the UV blocking suffers (as they seem to suggest) or would this cause the overall efficiency to deteriorate over time? This project does not look as attractive if it includes replacing the film every 5-10 years...

If it is more of a polarized state, then it's probably good for winter. That would be my concern...the added heating costs due to any "lost" "free" solar heating on my rooms.

I've not enough time to look at it now...but does anyone see anything in there regarding it blocking by being a polarized film (the idea being the sun hitting the house in summer is of a higher angle...more parallel to the house, so it blocks the direct light...in winter, the angle is more perpendicular to the house, so it allows the light to pass through (the same as the indirect light in Summer)

--Dan

 

[BrettS]

If it is more of a polarized state, then it's probably good for winter. That would be my concern...the added heating costs due to any "lost" "free" solar heating on my rooms.

I've not enough time to look at it now...but does anyone see anything in there regarding it blocking by being a polarized film (the idea being the sun hitting the house in summer is of a higher angle...more parallel to the house, so it blocks the direct light...in winter, the angle is more perpendicular to the house, so it allows the light to pass through (the same as the indirect light in Summer)

--Dan

I haven't seen anything about it being polorized, but from what I understand, a lot of the films, including this brand, I believe, have a low-e coating that reflects heat away from the windows. This reflects the heat from the sun away from the house in the summer, but I believe you do loose some solar heating in the winter due to this. However, it's my understanding that in the winter it also reflects the existing heat in your house back into the house, so you loose less heat through the windows in the winter. I don't know if that is enough to offest the loss of solar heating or not, however. In my case, however, living in the south, I'm much more concerned about lowering my cooling costs than about the few days a year when I'd want to get solar heating in the winter.

Brett

 

[Steve]

I'm in South Fla and I do have film on several windows, We put it in a few years ago during a remodel because we got rid of the blinds and opted for the open look. The film does cut down on the glare but I honestly have never paid much attention to the heat, although I can tell you that the film makes a HUGE difference on cars down here both in heat and glare, so they are effective. Keep in mind that if you do the whole house, the metallic films will block some wireless signal on things like your cordless phone, wifi, etc.

 

[CollinR]

I used to work in a lab developing films like that the degredation is because they are using a UVA or UV absorber in the film. It's kinda like a sponge you cannot squeeze out.

This would effect both is effientcy and it's lifetime as the film will become brittle as it is degraded by UV.


I know of no films that are polarized as you are requesting, that would be a technical feat byond my knowledge. The issue would be installation as you would need to apply the film at different angles depending on the location of the window on earth as related to true N. I really don't see that as being a really possible solution.


The most efficient method is an exterior screen that blocks IR and puts the windows in the shade, then can be removed during the winter. Blocking the heat on the outside will help in all aspects.

Also you could plant a tree!

 

[electron]

I have the film Home Depot sells, installed it several years ago. I think the best example is my glass patio door (which provides access to my deck). You can feel a huge difference, plus it also darkens the area a little, which makes it feel even cooler. It also adds that cool tinted look to your windows (so you don't see shades etc.). I did a crappy job installing it, since it is a lot of work, and I didn't think it would work, but 3 years later, and it's still doing a great job.

I wish they had the rolls in larger sizes, as I have a bay window which can't be covered with 1 piece, so you have to deal with the seem. I also noticed some of my corners peeling back a little, but I probably didn't do a good job cleaning the windows. I went with the 'bronze' Home Depot sells for around $30 (at the time).