3M Residential Sun Control & Insulating Window Film
Improve Energy Efficiency & Comfort With Window Film
3M has been improving the energy performance of residential windows for many years.
For instance, take a standard double pane window found in most 20-30 year-old homes. They are not necessarily as energy efficient as they should be. Installing 3M’s Thinsulate Climate Control Window Film lowers the SHGC and U-Value of existing double pane windows and virtually turns them into triple pane glass – all at a fraction of the price of window replacement.
Improve the efficiency of existing windows to reduce heat transfer and loss, which makes occupants more comfortable and decreases monthly utility bills. All without changing the appearance of the windows.
During the cooling season (hotter months), window film increases the amount of the sun’s incident energy that is reflected and absorbed by the glass, thereby reducing what is transmitted into the building.
During the heating season (colder months), window film increases the amount of man-made heat from the HVAC system that is reflected back inside the glass, thereby reducing what is lost to the outside.
Virtually Clear & Colorless
How Window Film Can Reduce Fading of Fabrics, Furniture & Flooring
Many homeowners believe that only ultraviolet (UV) light is responsible for furniture fade. That’s only partially true. The sun’s visible light and infrared heat also contribute to fading.
A major reason homeowners buy window film is to slow down the fading of their furnishings. The sun’s ultraviolet light (UV), visible light, and infrared heat cause furniture and floors to fade. Those damaging rays typically enter a home through its windows and window film can delay the fading process. Here is how:
The sun’s UV rays cause skin cancer but they can also cause furnishings to fade over time. You cannot really see or feel UV, but it’s there and it’s doing damage to both your skin and furniture and floors. Most window films, even clear ones, block out 99% of the sun’s UV, thereby reducing the likelihood that UV will cause couches and floors to fade.
Visible light is the reason you can’t stare directly at the sun; it’s simply too bright. The sun’s rays cause fading. Window film can block out the sun’s visible light. The darker the film, the more visible light the film is blocking, thus helping to preserve furniture and floors.
This is the heat that you feel on a hot day when you’re standing out of direct sunlight. This heat not only causes personal discomfort, but also damages a home’s fabrics and floors. Many window films are designed to block 97% of the sun’s infrared heat (when measured from 900-1,000nm) which will help protect furnishings.
Residential Sun Control Film Case Studies
Frequently Asked Questions
