UV rays and solar heat can make a house hotter and damage many belongings.
Buying windows with embedded low-E coating is one way to mitigate heat and damage.
Another way is to get low-E film applied to your windows.
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Low-E film is different from window insulation film, which is applied to reduce drafts.
Low-E films are a lower-cost alternative to installing factory-installed low-E-coated windows.
Low-E rolls are unavailable for DIYers in the United States and must be applied by a window company.
What Is Low-E Film?
Low-E film is sold in rolls to professional window installers.
Low-E means “low-emissivity.”
Low-E films usually contain metal or metal oxide as the material that counteracts the UV rays.
How Much Does Low-E Film Cost?
Installing low-E film on windows costs between $4 and $19 per square foot for materials and labor.
However, this is only available to commercial installers in the United States.
These films tend to be easy to apply and remove.
However, it can take time to apply the film well so that no bubbles develop.
It can also be tricky to keep the edges and corners down.
Review the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) and your windows' visible transmittance rating (VT).
Depending on your region and sun exposure, low-E film could majorly impact your home’s electric bills.
Low-E film can block up to 99% of UV rays in some cases.
UV light can damage or fade furniture, upholstery, andartwork.
A hairdryer’s heat helps tighten the film and make it more air-resistant.
Window insulation film is virtually transparent, so your view is not compromised.
Most window insulation films, being clear, do not block sunlight or UV rays.
Window types and technologies.
U.S. Department of Energy.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory.
