Window Film
 

Anyone have low-E window film installed? I've got a townhouse which gets hot as blazes upstairs, and the AC bill is through the roof. I was discussing reflective (privacy) window film with someone and later, searching on it, I ran across low-E transparent window film.

Seems this stuff transmits most visible light but blocks out a lot of the heat and pretty much all the UV. But does it change the color of the light? If I got it applied to some windows in a room, would it look stupid if I didn't do them all? How much does it cost? And how much could I save off the AC bill?

most of the newer houses here in phoenix offer factory low e glass (the film is inside the glass. that works incredibly well
some of the older homeowners that ran out and got the film had problems with it bubbling up and peeling at the corners, like a bad tint job on your nephews pimped out honda crx.
YMMV

A mini-development of about 10 new homes has been put in just around the side of the hill from me. The houses all have this very cool looking coppery sort of reflective glass in the windows. Don't know how efficient it is, but all the windows have been done up in it (not just some) and the over-all effect is quite impressive from the outside, anyhow.

It might be gold, actually. If you coat glass with a super thin coat of gold, it becomes an amazing reflector.

We have an entire office building coated with 2,500 oz of gold, downtown Toronto.

Too big for inline, click here

WOW! Very impressive, indeed! :cool: (need sun-glasses for that sucker!)

Fitting that it's a bank building.

carb, they've done a disservice to the neighboring buildings. they all just look filthy now.

In the office I work in there's similar film on the windows and its so depressing looking out you can't tell if its sunny(not that it shines much in Scotland).
It's like constantly looking out at a grey cloudy day,but the mean crew I work for would have went for the cheapest option.
Research well before comitting.

I agree with what be-bop said. I can't answer your AC question yet, as I haven't gotten all the windows filmed that I want to. But for what is filmed, there's a lot less heat coming through those windows.

I Think it's pretty slick how that stuff works. Polarized, kind of, but the angle of light entry changes whether the heat is reflected or retained, depending upon the season, and the height of the sun.

Do they put it on upside down in the southern hemisphere? Does it not work at the equator? Do i have my perception of how the sun shines on the earth all fucked up because of the axial tilt? Do I ask too many questons at one time? Can you tell I'm enjoying some coffee? Can you please come slap my hands away from the keyboard and hit Submit Reply? Please?

My father had a machine repair shop in an old barn back in the 50's. Needless to say, it would get brutally hot in there. An AC was not an option in the later years. When I started working with him in the early 80's, what we did was cover the windows with craft paper and installed a "diner vent fan" (sorry, I don't remember the correct name) that we got from a local place (Pal's Diner, Rt. 17), and believe it or not, that cooled the shop off real nice. Of course, it's not a townhouse, but one of these fans can move a lot of air real fast. And it doesn't jack up your power bill as much as AC.