AP Corp

About AP Website Access

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far AP Website Access has created 54 blog entries.

Invest in Temperature Control Window Film for Year-Round Comfort & Efficiency
Gallery
Invest in Temperature Control Window Film for Year-Round Comfort & Efficiency
Temperature Control

Invest in Temperature Control Window Film for Year-Round Comfort & Efficiency

AP Website Access2019-08-29T20:49:38+00:00

As summer comes to an end, we find that we may still experience some hotter days well into September. You may think that temperature control window film is only a concern during the heat of summer, helping to keep your house cool and refreshing from harsh sun rays. However, if you’re considering installing temperature control window film in your home, it will benefit you year-round. Not only will it help keep you cool in the summer, it will also help you stay warm in winter months. With summer coming to a close and the crisp fall air approaching, it’s still a perfect time to consider temperature control window film!

How Does Temperature Control Window Film Work?

The same film that helps keep the sun’s heat out in the summer also helps to retain the heat in your home during the winter. How does this work? 76% of the sunlight that hits double pane windows in the summer is converted to heat. So, in the summer, the window film reflects the heat back out into the atmosphere in order to maintain a cooler interior. While doing so, it still allows natural light to enter the home. In contrast, 30% of a home’s heating energy slips through windows in the winter. To stop this, in the winter the window film acts like insulation to trap heat within the home.

Benefits of Temperature Control Window Film

Save Money & Energy

Temperature control window film is an investment that will benefit you at any point in the year. Your HVAC unit will receive less wear and tear with assistance from window film, which in turn reduces your energy bills year-round. By insulating your home in the winter and cooling the interior in the summer, utility costs are better maintained. Not only does this save you money, but also reduces how hard your HVAC works to keep your home the perfect temperature year-round!

Protect Your Home from UV Damage

Harsh sunlight entering your home through windows is inevitable. Plus, we all love a little natural light! Over time, however, sunlight can cause damage to furnishings and flooring. Investing in window film will help to block out harmful UV rays that damage your interior furnishing. By reducing glare and harmful rays, it can help to decrease the damage that UV rays can cause.

Improved Home Comfort

Avoid feeling sweaty in the comfort of your own home on a hot, August day. Additionally, avoid teeth-chattering in the kitchen on a snowy January morning! All of the discomfort can be put to an end with the installation of temperature control window film. Maintain that cooler interior when necessary, and keep the warmth inside when needed — all with the same product. When homeowners invest in window film, they invest in home comfort.

Carolina Solar Security is a premium 3M™ Authorized Window Film Dealer in Wilmington, NC. We have been providing North Carolina homeowners and business owners with window tinting solutions since 1985 and never stop working to bring our customers the best products paired with the most skilled window film technicians. Reach out to us for your free quote today!

Invest in Temperature Control Window Film for Year-Round Comfort & EfficiencyAP Website Access2019-08-29T20:49:38+00:00

Don’t Forget Window Film When Taking Steps for Preventing Skin Cancer
Gallery
Don’t Forget Window Film When Taking Steps for Preventing Skin Cancer
UV Protection

Don’t Forget Window Film When Taking Steps for Preventing Skin Cancer

AP Website Access2019-07-26T18:38:22+00:00

Preventing skin cancer by taking measures to protect yourself and your family from the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays is important. If you’re wondering why, it’s because skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. More people are diagnosed with skin cancer in the U.S. each year than all other cancers combined. In fact, one in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Skin cancer kills thousands of people every year; an estimated 7,000-plus people will die of the melanoma form of skin cancer this year, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Like most other skin cancers, it’s primarily caused by exposure to the ultraviolet rays from the sun. Some cases are also caused by tanning beds. About 90 percent of melanoma and 85 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancer is caused by UV radiation.

Preventing Skin Cancer Involves Protecting Yourself Both Indoors and Outdoors

We’ve all heard the advice about protecting our skin outdoors. On the other hand, there isn’t much in the media about protecting our skin when we’re indoors. However, the Skin Cancer Foundation advises that while glass effectively blocks the sun’s UVB rays, 50 percent or more of harmful UVA rays still penetrate through glass, putting us at risk of developing skin cancer, even when we’re inside our homes or at work.

If you’re wondering how this can happen, think about items in your home or office. Examples would be furniture or personal belongings like photographs or artwork. Do they tend to fade when they’re near windows? Well, the same ultraviolet rays that discolor those items also cause damage to our skin. For example, if the color of the fabric on a chair near a window fades from the sun, then your skin is exposed to damaging UV rays when you sit in the chair during the day.

Fortunately, window film is very effective for preventing skin cancer indoors, but you don’t have to take our word for it. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends window film for indoor protection from the sun’s UV rays. They state that “window film is an increasingly effective solution, offering substantial indoor protection by blocking up to 99.9 percent of UVA radiation.”

Preventing Skin Cancer Requires Year-Round Diligence

It’s impossible to completely avoid exposure to the sun. However, we can certainly take measures to protect ourselves and our loved ones at home and our staff at the office. Here are some tips for preventing skin cancer that should be followed year-round, not just during the hot months.

1 – Wear sunscreen

Wear sunscreen on your face or use a moisturizer or foundation with built-in sunscreen every single day. Also protect other exposed areas of the skin as well, such as the ears, neck, décolletage, and arms. Be sure to use sunscreen or products that contain sunscreen with 30 SPF or higher.

2 – Cover up

Reduce your skin’s exposure to the sun by covering up with clothing. Try long-sleeved shirts, beach cover-ups, long pants, and wide-brimmed hats. If it’s hot outside, light-colored breathable fabrics are recommended. You can even buy clothes with built-in UV protection that blocks UV rays from penetrating through to your skin. If you can’t cover up with clothing, for whatever reason, try using an umbrella as cover when sitting or walking outside in the sun.

3 – Seek the shade

Limit the time you spend outdoors between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. And if you must be outside during these hours, especially in the summer, try to seek shade under things like awnings and trees as often as possible.

4 – Wear sunglasses

Your eyes need protecting from the sun’s damaging rays just as well as your skin. When outdoors, regardless of how cool it is, wear sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection.

5 – Use window film

As we’ve already mentioned, window film can help protect your skin from sun damage. It also helps preserve belongings and furnishings inside your home or office. For the best protection, choose a window film like 3M™ Sun Control Window Film. This film is specifically designed for significantly blocking out the sun’s harmful UV rays, while still allowing plenty of natural light through your windows.

Don’t Forget Window Film When Taking Steps for Preventing Skin CancerAP Website Access2019-07-26T18:38:22+00:00

Can Home Security Window Film Reduce the Risk of Break-Ins?
Gallery
Can Home Security Window Film Reduce the Risk of Break-Ins?
Safety & Security

Can Home Security Window Film Reduce the Risk of Break-Ins?

AP Website Access2019-07-26T18:28:28+00:00

Looking for an affordable way to make your home more secure without detracting from its appearance? Home security window film can be an excellent choice.

Since it’s thin and nearly invisible, it may be hard to believe it can protect your home from intruders. But home security window films, specifically 3M™ Safety & Security Window Films, Safety Series for Residential, make windows significantly stronger and harder to break than windows without the film.

What Makes 3M Safety & Security Window Films So Strong?

3M Safety & Security Window Films are very strong because of the way they are designed and the materials that are used to make them. The film’s special micro-layered polyester technology and more aggressive adhesive increase the films’ tear resistance significantly.

How Does the Window Film Reduce the Risk of Break-Ins?

Alarm systems will tell you when an intruder has broken into your home. However, window film can actually make it harder for them to get in your home in the first place. Recent testing has shown, for example, that 3M™ Security Window Films & Attachment Systems can deter intruders and increase the time it takes them to get into a home by as much as two minutes. 3M Impact Protection Attachment Systems attach to the frame of the filmed window. They then work in conjunction with the window film for premium protection.

Two minutes may not seem like a lot of time. However, it can be enough time for you or your loved ones to call for emergency help, to seek a safe spot to hide, or to leave the home. In addition, since the intruder faces resistance when trying to break-in, and because their attempts to break the glass make a lot of noise, they may become discouraged or fearful that they’ve been heard. This may cause them to abandon their plans to commit the crime altogether.

Home Security Window Films Have Other Features Too

If your windows are broken by accident or due to an act of nature, like a bad storm, 3M™ Safety & Security Window Films are designed to hold glass intact. That means that while a window may break, the glass won’t spray. This safety feature can reduce or prevent injuries to your family and pets caused by broken or flying glass shards.

3M™ Safety & Security Window Films come in styles and colors that enhance the beauty of your windows and can also be combined with other types of 3M™ film for other benefits. For instance, you can combine them with 3M™ Sun Control Films to keep your home cooler and reduce energy costs.

Carolina Solar Security serves Wilmington, NC as a premium 3M™ Authorized Window Film Dealer. We have been providing North Carolina homeowners and business owners with window tinting solutions since 1985. Our team never stops working to bring our customers the best products paired with the most skilled window film technicians. Reach out to us for your free quote today!

Can Home Security Window Film Reduce the Risk of Break-Ins?AP Website Access2019-07-26T18:28:28+00:00

Four Changes That Can Increase Employee Productivity
Gallery
Four Changes That Can Increase Employee Productivity
Uncategorized

Four Changes That Can Increase Employee Productivity

AP Website Access2019-05-24T15:57:08+00:00

Regardless of your industry, finding ways to increase employee productivity can be challenging, especially with so many distractions in the workplace. Sometimes relatively small changes in the work environment can make a big difference. Here are four improvements you can implement in offices and other workspaces for a boost in employee productivity.

1) Improve Comfort with Window Film

Commercial window film can make your workplace more comfortable, and employees accomplish more when provided with a comfortable, pleasant work environment. Window film adds comfort in several different ways:

Regulating temperature by filtering out the sun’s hot UV rays, and reducing hot and cold spots near windows.
Reducing annoying glare that can make it difficult for employees to see computer screens, monitors, and other electronic devices.
Adding privacy to areas where employees need to concentrate or hold meetings.
Enhancing the aesthetics of your office, making it a more inviting place for your employees to work.

As an added bonus, window film is not only an inexpensive way to improve your workspace. You might also see lower energy bills as well.

2) Increase Natural Light

Adding interior glass walls can optimize the flow of natural light through workspaces. Adding more exterior windows, enhanced with window film, is another great way to let more natural light in without raising temperatures. Daylight redirecting film helps sunlight reach further into a space by directing it toward the ceiling. This simultaneously reduces glare across computer screens, further improving employee comfort. Light, especially natural light, has been proven to boost productivity at work. In fact, a study published in Psychology Today compared workers in windowless offices to those in an office with natural light, concluding that exposure to sunlight affected not only performance, but also sleep quality and overall quality of life.

3) Replace Old Office Furniture

Providing office furniture designed with ergonomics in mind that you can adjust for different sizes of workers can positively impact employee comfort and productivity. Are your desks and chairs worn or no longer adjust properly? Maybe it’s a good time to consider shopping for new furniture.

4) Clean the Air

According to separate research studies by both Harvard and Syracuse universities, employees were more productive and called in sick less often when they breathed cleaner air. Therefore, installing new air ducts or air purifiers can be a good investment when looking for ways to increase employee productivity.

Four Changes That Can Increase Employee ProductivityAP Website Access2019-05-24T15:57:08+00:00

How to Save on Energy Bills During the Warmer Months
Gallery
How to Save on Energy Bills During the Warmer Months
Temperature Control

How to Save on Energy Bills During the Warmer Months

AP Website Access2019-04-25T14:59:42+00:00

Want some tips on how to save on energy bills when it’s hot outside? Your timing is perfect since temperatures are already heating up and summer will be here before you know it. Here are five tips on how to save on energy bills while keeping your home cool and comfortable during the warmer months.

1) Use Window Film

The sun produces infrared light that heats up your home as it filters through your windows. This causes your AC to work overtime and your energy bills to shoot up. Window film designed to block out the sun’s rays can help your home to stay cool and comfortable while controlling energy costs. This film reduces the amount of sun rays that enter your home through the windows, so your home doesn’t get as hot. Since it’s made of multiple fine layers that insulate your windows, it also holds in more of the cool air generated by your home’s cooling system.

3M™ Sun Control Window Film is a great example of window film that cuts energy costs while enhancing the appearance of your windows and still allowing in 40-70% of natural light. This multi-layer film uses nano-technology to block out 97% of infrared light and reject up to 60% of the heat that comes through windows. It also blocks out a significant percentage of the harmful UV rays that can fade your furnishings and belongings.

2) Check Vents and Air Filters

Check your air filters and replace old dirty, dusty filters with energy-efficient filters designed to help your home’s cooling system work more efficiently and lower energy costs. Also, check all the vents throughout your home to make sure they are fully open and not covered by rugs, furniture, or other objects.

3) Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat

Consider upgrading to a smart thermostat that you can adjust from anywhere using an app on your smartphone. This kind of thermostat allows you to turn up the temperature when you’ll be away, even if you forget to do it before you leave home. And you can adjust to a cooler temperature when you’re on your way back home. It’s a good idea to get an AC tune-up before it gets super hot anyway, so ask your HVAC technician about installing a smart thermostat when they visit your home.

4) Switch to LED Bulbs

Regular incandescent bulbs release heat. They also use a lot more energy than LEDs and compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). Replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs and CFLs throughout your home can make a significant difference in your utility bills. These bulbs cost more up front, but they last a lot longer and will pay for themselves in the long run. If you don’t want to replace all your bulbs at once, just replace a few at a time as old bulbs burn out. In the meantime, keep an eye out for sales so you have them on hand when you need them.

5) Change How You Cook

Cooking in the oven in the summer can push up the temperature in your home and put a strain on your home’s cooling system. If you enjoy cooking, try preparing more foods on the stovetop or in small appliances like multi-cookers and microwave ovens, which don’t require as much energy or release as much heat. Summer is also the perfect time to cook out on the grill and eat more chilled foods like salads and cold sandwiches that don’t require cooking at all.

When used in combination with window film, these tips can help lower your energy costs and maintain a more comfortable interior temperature as the summer months approach!

Want to Learn More on How to Save on Energy Bills with Window Film?

How to Save on Energy Bills During the Warmer MonthsAP Website Access2019-04-25T14:59:42+00:00

Window Film Installation 101
Gallery
Window Film Installation 101
Uncategorized

Window Film Installation 101

AP Website Access2019-03-28T02:15:33+00:00

Do you want to learn more about window film installation? At Carolina Solar Security, we get questions from our customers all the time about window film installation and what will happen after we arrive at their home or business. For example, many of our customers want to know how their windows will be prepped, how the film is attached, and how long the process will take.

In this blog we’ll give you an overview of the main steps involved in window film installation, and hopefully, we’ll answer any questions that you may have about the process. Typically, a technician will complete this entire process for one window before moving on to another window.

Window Film Installation Process

1. Clean

Before the window film installation can begin, our technician will first clean the window thoroughly to remove things like debris, dirt, dust, lint, cobwebs, and paint splatter. These would not only negatively affect the appearance of your windows once the film was installed, but they could also cause the film to bubble.

2. Measure

Next, our extensively trained technician will carefully measure the width and height of the glass surface of the window.

3. Cut

The technician will then cut the window film to the appropriate size allowing about an extra inch of film on each side.

4. Prep

The technician will then remove the release liner on the film exposing the adhesive. Using a spray bottle, they will then apply a special solution to the film to prevent lint or dust from sticking to it during the installation. This also prevents the adhesive from sticking to the glass too quickly before bubbles can be removed.

5. Apply

Our highly experienced team member will then carefully position and apply the film to the window.

6. Press

A squeegee is then used to push excess water to the edge of the film where it is removed. This also removes air bubbles. This step is repeated until all the bubbles have been pressed out from between the glass and film.

7. Trim

The technician will then use a knife and ruler to trim any excess film. Don’t be alarmed if you notice a gap between the edge of the film and the window frame. A small gap is intentionally left to prevent the film from bubbling and cracking.

As you can see, window film installation requires a great deal of precision and know-how at crucial steps. That’s why it’s important to work with an installer with experienced and well-trained technicians. When people attempt to save money by installing window film themselves, they often lose money because of wasted materials from multiple installation attempts.

Carolina Solar Security belongs to the 3M™ Prestige Dealer Network, 3M’s most prestigious network of dealers. In order to be part of that network, our technicians have been trained and certified to a stringent set of standards to deliver superior installation. In fact, because we belong to this elite network, our 3M window film installations are backed by 3M’s comprehensive warranties.

Want Us to Handle Your Window Film Installation?

Carolina Solar Security is a premium 3M™ Authorized Window Film Dealer in Wilmington, NC. We have been providing Southeastern North Carolina homeowners and business owners with window tinting solutions since 1985 and never stop working to bring our customers the best products paired with the most skilled window film technicians. Reach out to us for your free quote today!

Window Film Installation 101AP Website Access2019-03-28T02:15:33+00:00

Previous 678 Next