The two types of ultraviolet energy that reach the earth are UV-A and UV-B, UV-A being the most harmful. UV-C appears to be too weak to pass the earth’s atmosphere. 95% of the UV light to penetrate the earth’s ozone layer comes from the UV-A and 5% from the UV-B. The UV-A rays also affect the deeper skin cells and are among the top causes of premature skin aging. They also damage our homes and vehicles.
With the growing trend of larger windows, this can be an issue in our homes. With clear glass most of the UV-B is blocked by the glass but up to 75% of the UV-A passes through. Regular Low-E (low-emissivity) windows are similar to the clear glass.
The effects of UV-A rays:
You will receive UV-A even if the sun is not shining into the room directly.
UV-A rays are not only damaging to the skin but to your furnishings such as wood, carpets, upholstery, fabric and artwork. The UV-A radiation causes fading, color changing, cracking and even warping.
So how can you protect yourself, your home and your office?
You have a couple choices: one being window shades and the other window tinting. It is wiser and more cost effective to use window film instead of shades. Shades provide privacy but aren’t as effective against UV rays.
If you are looking at window film make sure you get film that not only block over 99% of all the UV rays but that the UV blockers are sputtered in the film and not just put into the adhesives. Many manufacturers will advertise that they block 99% of the UV rays, but if they take the inexpensive route of just putting the UV inhibitors in the adhesive, it is gone in a few short years.
There are many types of window film:
Reflective window film – provides daytime privacy and offers great heat rejection. If you have windows that face a busy street or your neighbor’s house, window film can help to give you some much-needed daytime privacy.
Ceramic window film – provides even more heat rejection. Ceramic film can also prevent up to 98% of infrared light from permeating your windows.
The importance of quality window film:
Quality window film won’t darken your windows excessively. Some types of residential window film are even undetectable. They can come in neutral or earth-tone colors.
More than two-thirds of sunlight that enters windows turns into heat. Second, up to a third of heating energy exits through untreated or bare glass windows. This means your windows are wasting significant amounts of energy from both sides.
In the summer you will find the window film helps your air conditioner not work as hard and saves you money. The film usually pays for itself in a one to five years, depending on the amount of windows to be done. Then there are the savings on the interior of your home from the reduced fading. You will also appreciate eliminated summer hot spots in the home or office.
And don’t forget the importance of UV inhibitors that last.
How does fading occur?
Ultraviolet Rays
As we stated before, window film can block over 99% of all UV rays. 40% of fading is caused by UV rays.
Heat
Another cause of fading comes from how much heat is coming through your windows; this accounts for 25% of fading. Ceramic films are made to reduce more heat.
Visible Light
Then the next culprit of fading comes from the amount of visible light that comes through the windows; this accounts for another 25% of total fading. Reducing some of the visible light will not only reduce some of the fading but will also reduce some of the excess glare. You can appreciate this if you watch television or work on a computer in a room with a lot of sunlight coming in. This can actually make it more comfortable for your eyes.
Another factor to consider is that reducing some of the excess sunlight can make your view outside even more beautiful because you are removing the white wash the sun can create.
Other Factors
Lastly, the final 10% of factors that create fading include humidity, dyes, interior lighting, etc.. Window film does not eliminate or reduce these variables.
Will removing UV rays affect my plants?
If you are worried that window film will harm your house plants, take heart. Window film blocks UV rays but not the red and blue rays that our plants need to live. These two colors are not part of the UV color spectrum, which are harmful to humans. In addition, window film helps to regulate room temperatures and moisture. This creates a stable environment for your plants by reducing intense sunlight. The best practice to see how plants fair in spaces with new window film is to test them. Most plants will adjust to window film just fine.
Auto Films
There are also ceramic auto films that will reduce the amount of heat coming into your vehicle. This is very important for electric car batteries. Reducing the amount of needed air conditioning will help save on your battery because the air conditioner is hard on batteries. The film basically pays for itself when you consider the cost of a battery.
Also, the UV protection not only saves your skin but also the interior of your vehicle.
UV Protection Window Film
UV protection window film is the perfect solution for those looking to reduce energy costs while also protecting their furniture and flooring from fading. By blocking out UV rays, our film helps to keep your home or office cooler in the summer months and warmer in the winter, which can lead to significant savings on your energy bills. In addition, you can choose a film that is virtually undetectable once installed, so you won’t have to worry about it changing the look of your home, office or vehicle.
