How Window Film Reduces Greenhouse Gases

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Greenhouse gases (a combination of vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone) are in the earth’s atmosphere and act as a giant blanket that makes the earth warmer, referred to as the greenhouse effect. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by nearly 40% since pre-industrial times – the current level is higher than it’s been in the last 800,000 years.

 

Window film is applied to glass to provide solar protection and increase energy efficiency by helping to reject heat in the summer and retain heat in the winter. This helps to reduce greenhouse gases in the following ways:

 

  • Less electricity and natural gas are used for heating and cooling
  • Fewer fossil fuels are burned
  • Less carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere

 

Vicious Cycle

 

Vicious CycleStudies show that electricity (which is used for heating and cooling homes and businesses) is the biggest culprit for producing greenhouse gas emissions, which causes global warming, which causes climate change. One obvious result of this cycle is warmer temperatures. According to the First Biennial Report of the United States of America, 2012 was the hottest year ever in the United States, and the 12 hottest years globally all happened in the last 15 years. Not surprisingly, greenhouse gas emissions from electricity use by homes and businesses went up 28% in the last 15 years.

 

 

Window Film to the Rescue

 

Now for some more encouraging facts from the International Window Film Association:

 

  • Buildings account for 40% of all U.S. energy used
  • Windows are responsible for 25% of a building’s consumed energy
  • 40% of commercial buildings and 33% of residential buildings have single pane glass

So there is vast potential for window film to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Here’s a look at just one example: the Safeco Plaza in Seattle, Washington, was ahead of its time and installed window film in 1996. Not only did they reduce their carbon emissions each year, they also enjoyed annual savings of $200,000 – not to mention the government incentives and rebates they received. And with the way the U.S. government has been strengthening its charge to stop global warming as of late, those incentives will no doubt only get better.

   

New Windows Versus Window Film

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Energy efficiency is a hot topic across the nation and in an effort to reduce utility bills, some homeowners have heavily invested in new windows for their homes. There are several benefits to purchasing new windows, but installing window film could be the solution to a majority of your needs. So before you consider purchasing a whole new set of windows for your home, be sure to ask yourself these three questions to ensure you are making the best decision.

 

 

What’s my budget?

 

What’s my budgetStaying within your budget is no exception when it comes to purchasing new windows. Installing new windows is not a small investment when the average national cost is approximately $4,500. The pricing depends on the size of the window, the type of window, and the number of windows installed. Most homeowners spent between $2,500 and $7,328, however, some have spent $11,000 or more.

 

Window film installation can be a better option than replacing your windows. At a fraction of the cost, window film provides major benefits comparable to installing new windows. The average payback period for window film can be as little as four years compared to almost 13 years for new window installations.

 

 

Am I trying to be more energy efficient?

 

Am I trying to be more energy efficientWindows have become more energy efficient over time and as a result have contributed to declining utility costs. Newer windows can better manage passive solar energy, leading to lower heating, cooling, and lighting costs. However, to achieve the maximum benefits, a more expensive window will be needed along with any additional features like blinds or curtains.

 

Window film is one of the most cost effective energy efficient home improvements. It blocks up to 99% of the sun’s UV rays and up to 86% of the sun’s heat, keeping your home cooler and your electric bill lower. While window film blocks the sun’s harmful rays and heat, your home will still receive enough natural light during the day that indoor lighting will not be necessary.

 

 

Do I need new windows?

 

Do I need new windowsIf your home’s windows are broken, have rotted frames, or have reached the end of their useful life, then yes, it is time for new windows. If the main reason behind new window installation is to give your home a new look, you should consider window film.

 

Window film allows you to give your home a personalized and unique look without costing you a fortune. There are decorative window films that give your home style while still receiving all of the energy efficient benefits. Installing window film also offers an extra level of protection by holding shattered glass together and reducing the possibility of furniture discoloration from the sun. So before purchasing new windows for your home, consider window film as an alternative option.

   

Discovering Unique Applications for Madico’s Amber 81 Window Film

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Madico Window Films are designed to solve specific issues and concerns for our customers.  From providing a more comfortable driving experience to reducing the heat and glare coming through a home or office building’s windows, we strive to provide products that make a difference in our customers’ day to day lives. Often, special uses are also discovered for our films that go beyond their initially intended purposes.

 

Madico’s Amber 81 film was originally designed as an automotive tint. While no longer sold as an automotive film due to a shift in consumer preferences for car tint coloring, it is now commonly used in the medical field*, technology based clean rooms, and for photography purposes. It is an amber colored window film designed to block UV light into the low visible light region.  UV light starts to transition to visible light around 380nm and a standard clear or lightly tinted window film will block over 99% of energy up until that 375nm. 

 

Madico’s UV Gard film blocks up to 380nm.  However, there are a number of medical and clean room applications that require additional blocking from 380nm to 400nm, where UV and visible light are both present.  Amber 81 provides excellent blocking throughout the 400nm range, with transmission below 10% all the way up to around 500nm. In situations where this type of extreme UV light blocking is required, the film is applied to all sources of light within the room such as windows, fluorescent lighting and even lasers.

 

The amber color of the film gives it this extra blocking capability, as opposed to our clear UV Gard film, which blocks transmission up to about 390nm and then increases to around 85% across the 400nm range.  UV Gard is better suited for museums and historic venues where only valuable furnishings need to be protected and a colored window film is not desired. The graph below shows the transmission of Amber 81, UV Gard, and a standard clear film through the UV and visible light regions.

 

Amber 81 is suitable for interior use and is covered by our standard 7 year warranty against film defects. 

 

*Before using any product to address health issues, a medical professional should be contacted to ensure that the product will in fact block the radiation necessary.

   

Sunblockers of Redding, CA Remains a Loyal Madico Customer for Over 30 Years

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Sunblockers, owned by the Audino family, introduced Madico Window Films to the Northern California market in 1980 and has been serving the Redding area with Madico products ever since. While their business has experienced many changes over the past 30 years, the one constant has been their loyalty to Madico films.

 

Taking an innovative approach, Sunblockers has carved out a niche in the market as the go to dealer for the city, county and even state’s window film needs. Recent projects include the Turtle Bay Exploration Park, Redding’s Civic Auditorium, and the local Cascade Theater.

 

One of the factors that Sunblockers attributes to their success is the formal showroom they have created for customers. From the moment you step through their doors, it is obvious that you are dealing with a professional company that takes pride in what they do.“We have created a reputation for ourselves in Northern California,” said Jack Audino of Sunblockers.  “If you want the work done right, come to Sunblockers; we are a professional company that you can trust.”

 

A recent job is especially notable because Sunblockers was asked to do it twice!  A building dating back to 1907 was remodeled and had new leasing tenants move in. The tenant experienced unbearable heat, especially on the top floors of the building, and reached out to Sunblockers who installed SL 18 on the top windows and SL 28 on the bottom.  Everyone was very satisfied with the work and product. Years passed and the same customer called again inquiring about window film for the building.  It turns out that the building’s owner took advantage of a recent government rebate and had new Low E² windows installed on the building in an effort to save energy. However, the Low E² windows were not keeping out enough of the heat and the leasing tenant again requested the SL 18 and 28 films to be applied. A true testament to the heat blocking properties of Madico films!

 

Sunblockers is also known for their unique marketing efforts. Recently, they became involved with SendOutCards.com, a company that specializes in the printing and mailing of greeting cards. Utilizing SendOutCards’ web based card creation system, Sunblockers has been able to take a snapshot of a recently completed project and quickly upload it to the card making site. Within 24 hours the card has been printed and sent out along with a special message. The ease and speed with which these personalized mailings can be sent out has proved to be a valuable resource to Sunblockers. For more information on SendOutCards contact Tom Schmitt at (530)-244-2636.

 

Sunblockers takes pride in every installation and is pleased to have been able to offer Madico films for the past 30 years. To get in touch with Sunblockers call (530) 244-1995 or visit their website at www.sunblockersinc.com.