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Nov 13
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Solar Controlling Window Film in Springfield, Missouri.

Solar Controlling Window Film Pros & Cons Detailed by Architect Magazine

By | Commercial, Home

Evelyn Royer wrote an article for Architecture Magazine called “The Pros and Cons of Window Films” that we wanted to summarize. Solar controlling window film can be a misunderstood product, so we wanted to clear up some misconceptions. These innovative films retrofitted to your existing windows can be one of the most cost-effective ways to boost energy efficiency in both homes and commercial spaces.

With a growing interest in improving energy efficiency, residential and commercial window films should not be a product that is overlooked. Let’s look into what the article says that these films can, and cannot do.

Window Film Pros

  • Window film can cut utility costs by 30% to 40% that is much cheaper than replacing windows.
  • Solar films block 99% of UV light that fades furniture without looking reflective or dark.
  • Window films can add security and slow down a break in.
  • Window Film can add safety by holding shards together if a window shatters.
  • Some films can make a low-cost new window as efficient as a newer low-E, triple-pane unit.

Window Film Cons

  • Some window manufacturers warn that films will void their window warranty. Check with your window manufacturer if your windows are still covered under warranty by the manufacturer.
  • Certain glass lites, latches, and frames make installation difficult, which can impact cost.

Ultimately, experts say the future is bright for solar controlling window film products. We completely agree as the importance of green technologies implemented into existing spaces will only be growing in importance over the coming years.

We would be happy to answer any questions and schedule a free, no obligation consultation about integrating these films into your home or commercial space. You can contact us by calling (417) 823-8715 or fill out a form HERE. We are located in Springfield, Missouri and service the surrounding area.

Aug 28
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Duke Energy Offers Several Energy Saving Tips For Homeowners - Home Tinting in Springfield, Missouri

Duke Energy Offers Several Energy Saving Tips For Homeowners

By | Home

Let’s face it, most of us are looking to save a little money these days and would love to take a bite out of high utility bills. However, we also want to maintain a comfortable house as many are spending a great deal more time in our homes these days. We wanted to do our part to help by summarizing five energy saving tips provided by Duke Energy in a recently published article. While this is not meant to be a comprehensive list, this could get you on the way to saving some money each month.

Five Energy Saving Tips From Duke Energy

  1. Use ceiling fans and set them to rotate in the proper direction for the season. Fans allow users to set thermostats in a way that can reduce energy use.
  2. Have your heating and air conditioning system serviced and change the air filter each month or according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Date the filter or set a reminder to help track when it’s time for a new one. This can help the unit run more efficiently.
  3. Install attic insulation rated R-30 and seal attic leaks. This will reduce heating and cooling escaping and could qualify for bill credits. Check with your utility company for more information.
  4. Install home window films or keep blinds, curtains and shades closed during the hottest part of the day, especially on south and west facing windows. This helps keep heat out and the AC from running constantly. However, most of us do not want to keep our blinds or shades closed, and this is where we can help. Modern home window films that can block a significant amount of this heat without even changing the appearance of your windows. We even have low-e options that can potentially save energy in both the warmer and cooler months. Contact us for more details.
  5. This is an area most people are unaware of. Unplug phones or other electronic devices once fully charged. Many chargers use energy even when they aren’t connected to a device.

The article at Duke offer several more tips as well and you can read the entire piece by clicking HERE.

We hope that this summary gave you some energy saving tips that you could use to start driving down your utility bills. If you would like more information about the home window films mentioned in the article, click HERE. If you have questions about our services, If you have questions about our services call us at or fill out a form HERE today.

Jun 26
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Noticing Heat And Glare Issues As You Spend More Time Spent At Home? - Home Window Tinting in Springfield, Missouri

Noticing Heat And Glare Issues As You Spend More Time Spent At Home?

By | Home

If your increased time at home has caused you to notice some excessive heat or irritating glare issues in your home, window film retrofitted to your existing windows can help. The unfortunate aspect of the great open feeling that windows provide is that they can allow in more glare and heat than you might prefer. This can cause your air conditioning to work overtime or make it harder to see computer and television screens.

Ways Window Film Can Help

Reduce Excessive Heat – While window treatments can be effective at blocking sunlight and reducing incoming heat, they also obstruct the desired view through the windows. A window film applied to your existing glass can reflect sunlight before it enters the home. In fact, it can block and reflect up to 78% of the sun’s heat. This means air conditioning does not need to run as frequently, so energy bills can be reduced.

Cut Irritating Glare – When direct sunlight causes glare on computer or television screens a window covering can block the light. However, this also means rooms are darker and more interior lighting is required to account for the loss of natural light. Window films can be used to control excessive brightness and prevents glare without forsaking natural light. In addition, you are able to look out windows and enjoy views and scenery, which has been shown to increase well-being and mood.

We hope this brief article helped enlighten you to how window film can help with heat and glare issues in your home. If you would like more information on home window film, click HERE. If you have questions about these innovative films, call us at (417) 823-8715 or fill out a form here. We would be happy to arrange a free, no obligation consultation and discuss how you can implement a window film solution in your home. We are located in Springfield, Missouri and service the surrounding area.

May 14
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Benefits of Home Window Film As Spring Arrives in Springfield, Missouri - Window Tinting in the Springfield, Missouri Area

Benefits of Home Window Film As Spring Arrives in Springfield, Missouri

By | Home

While most of you are likely thinking about other things at this time, we wanted to share some information you might find educational and informative. Despite the current situation, Spring has officially arrived and Summer is on the way. This time of the year brings in longer daylight hours and plenty of sun. While most of us typically look forward to this time of the year, that extra sun can play havoc in your home, with your health and on your budget. In this article, we wanted to focus on three ways that window films can help make all that extra sun alright.

    • Home Window Film Can Save Money on Energy Costs – The extra sun that Spring and Summer brings also often brings high utility bills because your air conditioning system is working overtime. Through the use of modern window films, you can dramatically reduce the amount of heat entering your home through the glass and subsequently reduce how hard your AC unit has to work to keep the home cool. If your AC system is working less, you are using less energy and your utility bills will reflect that savings.In addition, although not specifically a utility bill, your AC unit working less throughout the Summer can extend the service life of that unit and reduce maintenance costs. So, window film can actually save both on the energy cost of running the AC and the maintenance costs associated with the usage of your AC.
    • Window Films Can Make Your Home More Comfortable – The longer days of Spring and Summer can also bring about things that make your home less comfortable. Specifically, many homeowners deal with excessive glare and hot spots in the home at this time of the year. Whether it is for watching TV, using a computer or just kicking back with your favorite book, glare can make a room an uncomfortable place to be. By using window films strategically in your home, you can reduce the glare in rooms where that is an issue.Additionally, does your home suffer from hot and cold spots at this time of the year because one side is in sun most of the day while the other side is in the shade? You can use window film on the side of the home with excessive sun to reduce the heat entering in that area and equalize temperature throughout the home.
    • Window Films Can Preserve Your Furnishings and Your Health – The extra sun that Summer brings can also bring about fading issues with your flooring and furniture. Most windows offer no protection from the UV rays pouring through that account for a full 40% of the factors that cause fading. With modern window films, even the lightest shades block 99+% of the UV rays from entering through the windows. By eliminating this major cause of fading, you have taken a major step to extend the life of your flooring and furnishings. Also, The Skin Cancer Foundation has warned that this UV entering your home can also be detrimental to your health. In an article, they state,
      “While it’s understood that taking sun safety precautions is important outside, few people realize they can sustain sun damage indoors, too. While both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from the sun can harm the skin and lead to skin cancers, UVB is effectively blocked by glass. However, at least 50 percent of UVA rays can pass through windows. Window film is an increasingly effective solution, offering substantial indoor protection by blocking up to 99.9 percent of UVA radiation.”       The use of window film can help block these harmful UV rays and preserve your health in this area. You can read the entire article from The Skin Cancer Foundation by clicking HERE

So, don’t avoid the sun, but welcome its arrival by preparing your home with a modern home window film. If you would like more information on these innovative films, call us at (417) 823-8715 or fill out a form here. We would be happy to arrange a free, no obligation consultation and discuss how you can implement a window film solution in your home. We are located in Springfield, Missouri and service the surrounding area.

May 01
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May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month - Protect Your Skin in Springfield, Missouri - Home and Commercial Window Tinting in Springfield, Missouri

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month – Protect Your Skin in Springfield, Missouri

By | Automotive, Commercial, Home

Based on information from The Skin Cancer Foundation, with over 5 million cases diagnosed in the United States each year, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. That is why observing May as Skin Cancer Awareness Month is so important. According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, the incidence of this disease reaching epidemic levels. Fortunately, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer. About 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 85 percent of melanoma cases are associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. By raising awareness of the dangers of unprotected exposure and encouraging sun-safe habits, we can change behaviors and save lives.

You may wonder why we are sharing this information with you. What does window film have to do with skin cancer prevention? Actually, professionally installed window films are a given the Seal of Recommendation by The Skin Cancer Foundation as a safe and effective sun protection. They warn that ultraviolet radiation can travel through car and home windows, where it can contribute to the daily accumulation of sun exposure that can lead to skin cancer and photoaging. UV-blocking films can not only protect you against this exposure, but can offer other benefits as well. Harmful ultraviolet rays (UVR) are sneaky. Not only can they cause skin cancer and visible signs of aging, they’re also very good at finding you. They can bounce off water, off sand, and they can penetrate glass. Which means that even if you’re inside your car or house, if you’re sitting next to a window with sunlight streaming in, you’re at risk for UV damage. Window film is an increasingly effective solution, offering substantial indoor protection by blocking up to 99.9 percent of UVA radiation.

To learn more about how professionally installed window films can help protect your skin in the car, at home or at the office, click HERE.

We are happy to offer window film products that can help be part of the solution. We wanted to share this article and this information to do our part during Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Please share this article to help raise skin cancer awareness and educate friends and family one how a product like window film can help protect you in ways you never imagined.

If you have any questions or would like more information on the window film products we offer, call us at (417) 823-8715 or fill out a form here. We would be happy to arrange a free, no obligation consultation and discuss how you can implement a window film solution in your home or commercial space. We are located in Springfield, Missouri and service the surrounding area.

Apr 03
0

Like Home Improvement Projects? Window Film Offers Great Benefits

By | Home

Do you like home improvement projects? If you answered yes, you should really consider all the benefits a professionally installed window film can offer. In this article, we wanted to discuss some benefits of window films to a homeowner and why they should consider it for home improvement projects.

Why Window Film Is a Perfect Home Improvement Project

  • Color Neutral Options – While this may not have been the case in the past, modern window films can offer the tremendous benefits listed below without impacting the looks of your home.
  • Lower Bills – In hot weather, solar-control films can block up to 80 percent of the solar energy coming through windows. This can cut down on air conditioning costs by reducing the amount of time your unit needs to operate in order to keep the home comfortable. In addition, it can help reduce maintenance costs by lowering the strain on your equipment.
  • Added Protection – Visible light lies on the spectrum between ultraviolet, which damages furniture, and infrared, which beams heat. Treated windows will block 99 percent of UVA and UVB rays, thus greatly slowing the deterioration and fading of drapes, carpet and furniture.
  • Decorative and Privacy Applications – Today’s window films also can inexpensively make clear glass look etched or frosted to increase privacy or for a decorative effect.
  • Not a Fix For a Deteriorating Window – If your windows are in bad shape, leaking or poorly insulated, adding film won’t fix that. Deteriorating windows should be replaced. However, if your windows are in good shape, don’t go through the cost of replacing them just to improve energy efficiency, consider adding window film.

If you would like to learn more about home window film, call us at (417) 823-8715 or fill out a form here. We would be happy to arrange a free, no obligation consultation and discuss how you can implement a window film solution in your home. We are located in Springfield, Missouri and service the surrounding area.

Mar 21
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Stop Sun Fading from Bleaching the Color Out of Your Springfield, Missouri Area Home - Home Window Tinting in Springfield, Missouri

Stop Sun Fading from Bleaching the Color Out of Your Springfield, MO Home

By | Home

In a recent question and answer segment of the Home & Garden section of The Washington Post, the author Jeanne Huber discussed how window film can be effective to help stop sun fading of furniture and floors.

The person’s question was as follows: “My apartment — on the 12th floor, with southeast exposure — is wonderfully sunny. Plants do well, and I enjoy the light and the view all day. However, the sun has bleached both wood and upholstered furniture and some carpet. I don’t want to close the drapes and live in the dark. Can my windows be treated?”

Jeanne went on to describe how window film could be the solution to the issue by saying, “Having window film installed on the inside of your windows could be the solution…Window film cannot totally prevent fading because other factors, such as humidity, account for about 5 percent of the problem. But depending on the window film you select, it can go a long way toward reducing the problem. All films block virtually all ultraviolet rays from the sun, which are responsible for about 45 percent of fading. Films also can block the rays that together cause about half of fading: visible light and infrared light, which causes heat.”

Jeanne was absolutely correct. The window films we carry cannot completely stop sun fading, virtually nothing can, but they can significantly slow down the process. By significantly reducing UV, visible light and heat, a properly specified window film can allow you to enjoy the sun without worrying about bleaching out your furniture or flooring.

You can read the complete piece in The Washington Post by clicking HERE.

If you would like more information about how our window films help to stop sun fading in your home, call us at (417) 823-8715 or fill out a form here. We would be happy to arrange a free, no obligation consultation and discuss how you can implement a window film solution in your home. We are located in Springfield, Missouri and service the surrounding area.

Feb 20
0
Cost Effective Energy Saving Technology for Homes & Commercial Spaces - Home and Commercial Window Tinting in Springfield, Missouri

Cost Effective Energy Saving Technology for Homes & Commercial Spaces

By | Commercial, Home

If you are considering energy saving technology for your home or commercial space without breaking the bank, you should consider a professionally installed window film. Window film innovation has taken major leaps in recent years and the film installed on home or commercial windows has little in common with the basic window tint you might find on a car. For one thing, you can achieve very high levels of performance with professional window films while barely being able to detect that they are installed on the glass. In addition, these films can be retrofitted to nearly any existing window to improve the performance of that unit in a more cost effective way than window replacement.

A recent article at Builder Online even noted that: “Energy Commission creates a “loading order” that ranks products on energy efficiency by cost effectiveness. Window film is near the top of those products, beating even blown in ceiling insulation.”

So, with that in mind, we wanted to provide you with a couple of facts about window film and how it can improve nearly any home or commercial space.

Five Fast Window Film Facts

Cut Cooling Costs By Up To 50%
According to the EPA Energy Star Buildings Manual in the United States, approximately half of a home’s utility bills are wasted by loss of heat and heat gain through untreated windows. Window films can significantly improve energy efficiency. With a thin, virtually invisible addition to existing windows, window films can help you save up to 50% on cooling costs.

Reduce Hot Spots and Cut Irritating Glare
Open your blinds, shades, or draperies and let the sunlight in. In addition to blocking heat, window film reduces glare by up to 87%, making it easier for you to watch television or work on a computer in comfort. Because window films are made with ultra-clear, distortion-free materials, you won’t even know it’s there.

Lessen the Detrimental Effects of UV Exposure
Most fabrics, furnishings and artwork can fade simply by allowing daylight to pass through an untreated window. Most window films will block up to 99.9% of all UVA and UVB rays, helping to protect the occupants of the space while also preserving the color of furnishings, fabrics and carpets.

Corrects Temperature Imbalances Across a Space
Window films can help eliminate hot and cold spots within a space by using film that reduces heat gain coming through the glass in hot areas. This will create a more balanced temperature across the space and reduce the load on the air conditioning system.

Cost Effective Alternative to Window Replacement
While damaged or deteriorating windows simply have to be replaced, window film provides an affordable alternative to replacement when your goal is to improve energy efficiency on otherwise sound windows. In fact, the cost for quick, professional installation is about one-tenth the cost of replacement windows!

If you would like to learn more about how window films as a cost effective energy saving technology for home or commercial spaces, call us at (417) 823-8715 or fill out a form here. We would be happy to arrange a free, no obligation consultation and discuss how you can implement a window film solution in your home or commercial space. We are located in Springfield, Missouri and service the surrounding area.