3M Thinsulate Climate Control Window Films
At a Glance
3M Company holds the original window film patent dating back to 1966. Since then, window film has evolved significantly in appearance and function thanks to technological advancements. In 2016, 3M introduced Thinsulate Climate Control Window Film, a nearly invisible window film that keeps out the sun’s heat in the summer and retains manmade heat during the winter. It is almost the equivalent of adding an extra pane of glass at a fraction of the cost of window replacement and without changing the appearance of the house or building.
The 3M-owned brand name, Thinsulate, is appropriate for this innovative film as the term suggests insulation from extreme weather. Just think Thinsulate gloves, scarves, hats, and boots. Its effect on existing windows is significant; especially when you consider that it is approximately the same thickness as a Post-it Note and not an extra piece of glass separated by a ½” air gap. The table below illustrates the impact of Thinsulate Climate Control Window Film to the U-Value and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of standard clear glass window units:
U-Value Before | U-Value After | Improvement | SHGC Before | SHGC After | Improvement | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Single Pane (1/4") | 1.03 | 0.62 | 40% | 0.82 | 0.53 | 35% |
Double Pane(1/4", 1/2" air gap, 1/4") | 0.47 | 0.35 | 26% | 0.70 | 0.51 | 27% |
The numbers speak for themselves. Adding 3M Thinsulate Climate Control Window Film lowers a window’s SHGC and U-Value considerably, almost to the same extent as replacing single pane glass with double pane, or double pane glass with triple pane.
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