How Solar Control Film Can Help You Stay Cool This Summer + Additional Benefits

Summer is almost here again, and it seems every year is a little bit hotter than the one before. Now is the perfect time to prepare our homes and offices so they’ll be cool and comfortable in the sweltering months ahead. While it sounds simple, maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature can be challenging during the summer’s heatwaves. Infrared rays from the sun penetrate your glass windows and raise indoor temperatures, causing your AC system to work overtime. This temperature fluctuation results in costly energy bills, equipment issues, and repairs. Solar control film can help.

What Is Solar Control Film?

Solar control film counteracts issues caused by the sun, including heat, glare, and damage caused by UV rays. 3M™ Prestige Solar Control Window Films are top-quality films in this category. Made with patented technology, the film has 200-plus wafer-thin layers bonded together into sheets thinner than a sticky note. The films are durable, scratch-resistant, and designed to transmit plenty of natural light. They are non-metallic, so there’s nothing to corrode or interfere with device signals.

Here’s how these films address the main issues caused by the sun in the summertime in both homes and commercial properties.

Heat Rejection

Sun control window film’s temperature regulation is two-fold. First, it reduces the amount of solar heat that enters buildings through glass windows, doors, and skylights. 3M™ Sun Control Window Film, for instance, uses nano-technology to block out 97% of infrared light and reject up to 60% of the heat coming through your windows. Secondly, solar control film serves as an insulator, retaining more of the cool air generated by your air conditioning system. Not only will your home be more comfortable, but your AC unit will not have to work as hard to keep your home cool, resulting in lower energy costs and fewer HVAC repair bills.

Glare Reduction

Glare can be annoying, cause discomfort, and make it difficult to view the device screens we use every day, including the screens on televisions, computer monitors, laptops and desktop computers, smartphones, and cameras. The sun’s glare can block our views to the outside, interfere with our vision, and even result in eye strain and headaches.

3M™ Window Films have anti-glare properties that significantly reduce excessive glare. The 3M™ Prestige Series Films, for example, are constructed of hundreds of layers that precisely control light by reflecting certain wavelengths while letting others pass through. This film actually increases its performance as the sun’s angle increases, offering more glare protection when the sun is high and at its hottest.

UV Protection

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight is one of the greatest sources of damage to home interiors. When exposed to sunlight for extended periods, the sun’s UV rays will cause materials to fade, discolor, and deteriorate. These same UV rays also damage our skin, even through window glass. UV rays can cause our skin to wrinkle and age, in addition to increasing our chances of developing skin cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, window glass effectively blocks UVB rays, but 50 percent or more of harmful UVA rays still penetrate through the glass.

Window film with UV protection reflects up to 99% of the sun’s harmful UV rays. This layer of protection not only shields our skin but also extends the life of home and office furnishings.

Learn More About Solar Control Film