Reduce Your Building’s Energy Load with 3M™ Window Film – by Peter J. Davey, President, American Window Film, Inc.
The need to shift from dependency on fossil fuels to renewable energy resources has never been more apparent than it is now. This shift, no doubt, will take time, but conserving energy by reducing your building’s energy load is an immediate step in the right direction.
Before replacing major systems in your building, finding ways to reduce the overall energy consumption could improve your bottom line in more ways than one. Installing a quality insulating, Low-E window film before investing in a new cooling system can make it possible to buy a smaller, less expensive system. Along with lowering your utilities expense, the reduced load is likely to extend the life of your existing system.
For building owners and managers looking to increase their building’s energy efficiency and interested in going green, many 3M™ Window Films meet LEED Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisites and qualify for LEED credits. Qualifying categories for credits include “Indoor Environmental Quality”, “Daylight and Views” and “Optimize Energy Performance”. In addition, the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) has certified a range of the 3M™ Window Films. NFRC certification provides affirmation that 3M’s films meet rigid energy performance factors for windows.
Featuring Wavelength-Selective metals which block more of the solar spectrum than conventional metals, many Low-E window films manufactured by 3M can reduce air conditioning costs by blocking up to 73 percent of the sun’s heat. They also reduce heat loss by up to 30 percent. Patented construction enables their metal coating to reflect more interior room heat back into the room. Personal comfort is improved and reduction in drafts and fluctuations in temperature can generate considerable savings on fuel expense.
As a 3M Authorized Window Film Dealer and member of their Prestige Dealer Network, American Window Film, Inc. can provide a comprehensive energy analysis that includes return-oninvestment projections for large commercial customers. Many 3M™ Window Film installations pay for themselves within three years, conservatively. With energy costs high, return-on-investment arrives more rapidly. Post installation, a large 3M Window Film project consisting of 11,000 windows completed in April 2009, was tracked for its KWH savings. It saves 155,000 KWH per month and payback period for the project was less than eight months.
If your building is already equipped with Low-E windows, 3M™ Window Films can enhance their performance. A Low-E window can block up to 90 percent of UV radiation. After an installation of 3M™ Window Film, the same window will block more than 99 percent of the UV radiation that contributes to a building’s heat gain and loss. In addition, by holding broken shards of glass in place, particular 3M™Window Films will improve the safety of Low-E windows that do not typically protect against flying glass unless they are tempered. Low-E windows do not ordinarily reduce glare since most have a visible light transmission greater than 70 percent. 3M™ Window Films can reduce glare up to 80 percent.
Established in 1975, American Window Film, Inc. carries a line of 3M™Window Films that significantly reduce heat loss, heat gain and energy consumption while lowering utilities bills. An ISO9002 certified facility and $25 billion diversified technology company, 3M is recognized for its outstanding accomplishments in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency.
Additionally, 3M has responded to demand for a high clarity, non-metallic window film. 3M’s spectrally selective Prestige Series window films reject up to 97% of the sun’s infrared heat (900-1,000 nm) — reducing air-conditioning costs while preserving the cosmetic integrity of a building’s windows. An innovative series of window films, the Prestige Series of films reject infrared without using metals. Metals can corrode over time in moist conditions and can interfere with cell phone signals and Wi/Fi transmissions. 3M’s Prestige Series window films unconditionally guaranty against corrosion. They offer high optical clarity, low reflectivity and incomparable performance. They reflect and absorb 99.9% of the UV light that fades fine furnishings, and they do this by aligning more than 200 layers of polymers in a total thickness that is less than 1/2 the thickness of one 3M Post-It™ Note.
Upon application of insulating, Low-E window film, specifically designed to conserve energy, your bottom line will begin to improve immediately by reducing costly heat gain and loss through your windows throughout the year, lowering your utilities expense and increasing the life expectancy of your HVAC equipment. Additionally, many films qualify for LEED credits and a quick, clean, cost-effective installation can provide a rapid return-on-investment…a “top-of-the-list” energy conservation measure.
Peter J. Davey is president of American Window Film, Inc. a 3M™ Authorized Prestige Window Film Dealer located in Foxboro and Boston, MA, and Atlanta, GA. www.americanwindowfilm.com, 800-274-TINT
Published in High Profile Monthly, September 2012
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