Energy Efficiency and Window Films: What You Need to Know

It’s estimated that the average commercial building in the United States uses about 22.5 kWh of energy per square foot of floor space each year. According to the latest Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey, commercial buildings in the United States spend more than $140 billion annually on energy. They are responsible for 40 percent of the nation’s total energy usage, with heating and cooling among the largest costs.

Noting this, it shouldn’t surprise you to learn that commercial buildings represent a significant amount of overhead for businesses. For most buildings, about 20 percent of their operational costs are energy costs. Hence, any opportunity to reduce these costs is only going to help the bottom line (not to mention other trickle-down benefits like extending the lifespan of HVAC equipment, reduced carbon emissions, etc.). The good news is that businesses have many opportunities to improve their energy efficiency. One often overlooked way is with window films and other technologies.

In this post, we’ll explain how implementing the right window films and window technologies can prove to be a beneficial piece of your office’s overall energy efficiency strategy. Read on to learn more:

Optimizing Energy Efficiency with Window Films and Technologies

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, up to 75 percent of all windows are not energy efficient. However, you don’t necessarily need to replace your windows completely to make improvements. Instituting the right window films and technologies can help improve energy efficiency by up to 15 percent, which can represent significant cost savings. What’s more is that these window treatments also represent an affordable option. Here’s a look at some of the window film types to help achieve this.

Solar Control Window Film

Solar control window film can do more than just reduce glare and facilitate a more comfortable and productive overall environment, it also has thermal benefits, which can prevent heat escape in the winter months and cool air from escaping during the summer months. Some films, like Solyx’s Ultracool film, do more than just reject 99 percent of UV rays, they’re also highly rated for heat rejection. Some solar control window films can also help your facility earn LEED credits.

RF and IR Shielding Films

RF blocking window films are best associated with helping to keep your office safe from electronic eavesdropping and data theft. However, certain films can also help with UV and solar emissions. Even films that are just 2 mils thick provide an added layer between your window and the outside world and can also assist with reducing UV and solar emissions. RFwindowfilm comes in a variety of different styles and thicknesses, ranging from as thin as 2 mils to as thick as 10 mils.

Other Window Treatments and Technologies

From roller shades to blinds and custom solutions, window treatments can also help an office improve its energy efficiency. One of the most significant solutions for reducing heat and glare is solar shades. Solar shades are translucent, so they still allow light to pass into the office and permit unobstructed outdoor views. However, they’re also specifically designed to reduce glare from the sun, which can make for a more comfortable working environment. Additionally, they help reduce heat intake – with some solar shade types reducing indoor temperature by up to 15 degrees. That can make a big difference during the hot summer months and help save money on cooling costs.

One nice thing about window treatments is that many can be programmed so any blinds or shades are raised and lowered according to the most appropriate time of the day. This can also help a building with any of its energy efficiency goals.

Contact Signals Defense Today

Contact Signals Defense today for more information on how window films and other window technologies can help improve your building’s energy efficiency.  You can also read more about window treatments and window film in our previous blog:  Window treatments and Window film

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