Windows and Energy Efficiency

How can we collectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions? The answer is usually energy efficiency or conservation, but what that means or what constitutes being efficient is often never fully defined or elaborated upon. Often, many experts, pundits, ordinary citizens, and even those in the media answer questions about reducing carbon dioxide emissions in general terms without giving a lot of clear cut specifics. Or if specifics are given, it is usually in the context of whether something will hurt the consumer's pocketbook or not. However, one of the ways to actually be energy efficient and reduce one's impact on the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is to look at windows that are both economical and environmentally friendly.

According to Bruce Mulliken, one way to be energy efficient is by installing "solar control window films (which) can be applied to existing glass. Solar Gard, a maker of such films, says their products help buildings consume up to 30 percent less energy for cooling by stabilizing interior temperatures, transforming standard glass into high performance windows." However, while it is great to have solar films during certain seasons like during the summer or in spring time when the sun is out a lot, during the winter months, it might be great to have some sun to shine in when it is cold. Consequently, being energy efficient has its drawbacks, perhaps in the form of comfort in terms of what individuals are accustomed to, but in the end there is no denying the benefit of less energy consumption which in turn saves individuals on their electrical utility bill.

Solar control window films, like any new innovation, renewable or non-renewable, will inevitably have positive and negative aspects to it. The question that must be answered is whether the positives outweigh the negatives, or another way of putting it, is do the pros of the product or service outweigh its cons?  In the case of solar film windows, it may not be great during the winter to have sunlight blocked, but such impacts can be managed and mitigated. The overall savings is hard to ignore and is truly a large benefit of solar film windows. On the whole, therefore, solar film windows are indeed a benefit to the consumer and should be looked into by the average consumer if they are serious about energy efficiency and being environmentally conscious. Becoming energy efficient does not necessarily have to be inconvenient. Rather, it can be thought of as helping your pocketbook from lower electrical bills and the environment simultaneously.

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