Madico U
Company
The Challenge
The 32-year old Reunion Park building is located in Austin, Texas, where the sun shines 300 days per year and summer temperatures exceed 90º F over 80% of the time. Humidity is also a factor, with summer averages topping 67% due to the proximity of the Gulf of Mexico. In other words, Austin weather makes it difficult and costly for building owners to provide a comfortable environment for their occupants. Take Reunion Park, for example. Despite having installed light bronze tinted single pane glass, the building management team frequently received complaints of high temperatures and glare. A lack of privacy was also an issue, particularly for ground-floor tenants where pedestrians could easily see inside the building.
The Solution
Madico®’s Silver 20 (SRS 220) was installed in December 2009. This film was chosen for several reasons. First and foremost, it provides energy savings through lower air conditioning costs. It offers superior heat rejection – 81% of total solar energy rejected – while improving occupant comfort by blocking solar heat and reducing glare. The scratch-resistant film also reduces fading of interior furnishings by filtering 99% of harmful UV rays. Madico Silver 20 is backed by a 10-year warranty, though buildings in similar climates have had Madico window film installed for more than 20 years with minimal degradation in performance or appearance. Eager to support energy-efficient facilities, Austin Energy provided a 20% rebate to offset the initial investment. Similar rebates, designed to motivate facility owners and managers to reduce electricity consumption, are offered by many energy providers.
The Results
Madico’s Silver 20 window film significantly decreased the heat gained through Reunion Park’s windows. The property manager, Linda Kliarsky, anticipates about a 10% per year energy cost savings as well as a reduced cost for the maintenance of the building’s HVAC equipment. These benefits result from a dramatically decreased load on the HVAC system. Since the installation, comfort-related complaints have dropped by a staggering 98%, tenants have enjoyed greater privacy, and the building appearance has improved significantly. The project costs will be recovered in two years. Ms. Kliarsky also noted that the highly professional installation process was completed during the day with minimal interruption.