8-ways-window-tinting-can-keep-cooling-costs-down

You may have read somewhere that residential window tinting can save you money on your cooling costs. Well, according to the website energy.gov, this is certainly true. Window tinting is listed as an energy-efficient window treatment. 40% of the heat buildup in the home comes in through it’s windows. Window film helps by blocking the heat and harmful UV rays that cause furniture and carpeting to fade or look bleached in spots.

During summer one of the biggest expenses of the month is your cooling bill. One of the best ways to lower your cooling costs is to not use your air conditioner as often, but that may be an impossible task depending on where you live. Of course the less you use of something, the less it costs. What you can do, if you can’t turn off your air conditioner completely, is to lower the thermostat a few degrees during the hottest part of the day. Covering sun-facing windows in the afternoon blocks heat and keeps down humidity making your cooling system work more efficiently.

Most consumers never consider window tinting as a energy-efficient tool for saving money. Tinted windows help keep your car’s interior cooler in the summer, why wouldn’t it do the same in your home? Residential tinting comes in different shades and degrees of tint so you can customize your windows to your liking. Popular shades include gray, brown, clear, frosted and mirrored.  Tinted windows are also harder to see through from the outside adding a feeling of security for occupants alone in the house.

Another type of window film increases your home’s security by making windows resistant to breaking. This type of film adheres to the glass and bonds with it making it stronger and more resistant to shattering.  If for any reason the window does break, the shards are held together by the window film so there is less danger of cuts from picking up broken glass. This added layer of protection keeps intruders out as well as the excess heat.

Here are a few ways that residential window tinting helps lower your seasonal cooling costs:

  •  relatively inexpensive at $7 to $12 per sq. ft installed
  • can be self-installed for half the price
  • does not need to be applied to all windows, sun-facing windows only
  • reduces fading on carpets and furniture
  • AC thermostat can be lowered a few degrees, saving money
  • stops heat gain through windows
  • reduces glare and heat buildup
  • tax incentives up to $500 for energy-saving home improvements

Homeowners spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars during one cooling season (depending on how much you use your air conditioner and temp settings) and  60% of those costs can be attributed to heat gain through the roof and windows of the home. By shading these areas, not only does your home stay cooler inside,  but your overall cooling costs for the season will be much less.

For more tips on cooling your home naturally and saving money,  this resource from NREL.gov gives some helpful information for money-saving home improvements.