When HVAC systems strain to heat or cool large volumes of air in commercial buildings, this not only runs up utility bills. It also causes undue wear and tear on the heating and cooling systems. This inevitably leads to breakdowns, causing disruption to building routines and affecting occupant comfort levels. When tenants are uncomfortable, they are unhappy and look for someone to blame. It’s typically the building owner or property management company that takes the heat.

COVID has put more strain on HVAC systems more than ever as health regulations and recommendations call for less air recirculation. This means larger volumes of fresh, outdoor air must be pumped into buildings. The problem is that all this extra outdoor air has to be heated or cooled, depending on the season, to maintain indoor comfort. Luckily, there is an affordable solution that can make a big difference: window film.

How Window Film Can Reduce Wear and Tear on HVAC Units

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), as much as 35% of the energy lost in commercial buildings escapes through glass windows. Keep in mind, this is air that your HVAC system has already worked to heat and cool. Your commercial HVAC unit has to work to replace this air, and that can cause strain and system breakdowns. Commercial HVAC systems are complex with multiple modules. Repair is expensive, and the replacement of worn-out equipment is even costlier. According to HomeAdvisor.com, the average price of a commercial HVAC system ranges from $7,000 to $30,000. The costs can vary greatly based on building square footage that needs to be heated or cooled, among other factors.

High-quality window film can reduce the solar heat that enters buildings through windows. This helps keep buildings cooler in the warmer months. Additionally, window film insulates windows and reflects radiant heat inside in the winter. This improved insulation reduces strain on heating and cooling systems year-round as buildings retain more heated and cooled air. It also lowers energy bills while reducing hot and cold spots around windows and glass doors for improved indoor comfort year-round.

By blocking out unwanted heat in the summer and reflecting heat back inside in the winter, window film makes existing windows perform more efficiently and causes less strain on HVAC systems. Not to mention, this newfound window efficiency costs only a fraction of what window replacement would cost, and without the downtime and hassle.

What Kind of Savings Can You Expect?

Window film is so impressive that the DOE recommends it as an effective solution for reducing energy bills. The savings can be significant and immediate. Building owners investing in professionally-installed solar window film, for example, can see savings of approximately $1-2 per square foot of film installed, reports the DOE, or as much as $19 kWh per square foot of glass. Building owners start saving money right away and can see a return on investment within three years. Furthermore, these savings only factor in costs on energy savings. They don’t even include the money you can save on expensive HVAC repairs or replacement! Additional ways to save with window film include preventing theft and minimizing fading on furnishings and other household items.

Window Film Provides Added Benefits

In addition to reducing energy bills and costly HVAC repairs, window film provides many other benefits that can make buildings more comfortable and improve tenant retention. These include reducing glare, minimizing fading of furnishings, protecting skin from harmful sun damage, enhancing privacy and aesthetics, and more. The combination of these benefits results in a very worthwhile investment.

Learn More About How Window Film Reduces Wear and Tear on HVAC Systems

Carolina Solar Security is a 3M™ Authorized Prestige 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! 

By Published On: March 25, 2021

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