Stained Glass Window Film

photo credit: Tambako the Jaguar

Home window tint is a product that homeowners can apply to their windows to shield sunlight, harsh heat, and harmful Ultraviolet rays from their home’s interior.

The more residential window tinting that is installed in a particular neighborhood or town, the greater impact it can have on saving energy.  Although the savings may seem miniscule when comparing it per individual home per month. When added together over time, and across a large population, the impact on energy use can be tremendous.

So, exactly what does solar window film accomplish?  In a nutshell, when applied to the interior surface of residential windows, it blocks out up to 95-99% of UV rays.  It also reflects a significant portion of the sun’s harsh rays thereby reflecting the heat away from the home.  This has a direct impact on keeping the interior of the home cooler and thus saves on air conditioning costs.   As the air conditioner runs less, the electricity meter slows to a crawl and saves you real money!

Impressively, some homeowners claim to experience up to 20% reduction of their cooling costs on a month to month basis.  So if you live in a hot climate year round (think  Arizona, Florida,Texas), these small dollars from month to month can add up to big savings.  And then when you factor in the value of living in your home for multiple years, it makes a lot of sense to consider doing research on home window tint.

photo credit: justneal

One final important note for the 2009 tax season! I  found this great tip on tax credit savings from www.energystar.gov.  Specifically, the reader asks whether window film qualifies for a tax rebate in 2009.  See the reply below or follow this link…  Is there a tax credit for window film?

If you’re still here, in a nutshell the answer says that energystar.gov gives is this:

Certain window films  – if purchased in 2009 or 2010  – are able to qualify for the tax credit if the manufacturer certifies that, similar to insulation, the window film meets the statutory criteria. If the specific window film satisfies the requirements of a “qualifying insulation system,” and the manufacturer certifies the product as meeting those requirements, the product is eligible for the tax credit of 30% of the cost of the window film, up to $1,500.

So, when shopping for solar window tinting, do a little digging and see if the manufacturer has specs that meet this guideline.  If you do a little work upfront, you will  save energy, help the environment AND get rewarded on your taxes for it!