In the early days of the energy crisis, in the 1970s, window tinting and film companies developed a special film that helped control the impact of the sun’s rays coming into office buildings. We all have sat next to windows in  buildings where sun rays entering the space, while seemingly nice on cold winter days, can in fact be brutally warm. Not to mention the glaring issues it causes. The result is a comfort issue for office employees with desks near windows.

The larger problem is the impact the intruding rays of the sun have on a buildings HVAC system. In winter, hot rays from the sun intruding into the building can fool the HVAC sensors, making it seem like summer. As a result, the A/C can go on. Employees near the windows are no doubt happy but the rest of the people in the building are not.

This sun control situation caused energy bills to climb at a time when they needed to decline because of the sharp rise in oil prices and other energy costs.

Another issue with solar heat gain was its effect on artwork, furniture, carpet and other furnishings. Over time, the sun’s rays caused the artwork and furnishings to fade, resulting in permanent damage.

The specialty solar control film was developed by to counteract or even out the solar heat gain. The scientific aspect of this relates to Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. This measures the solar heat that enters a window and becomes heat. There is a measurement between 0 and 1 that accurately measures the solar heat gain. The lower the number, the less heat is being transferred.

Another factor is U-Value. This measures heat transfer related to outside and inside temperature difference. HVAC engineers and insulation professionals use R-Value, which measures window film’s ability to act as an insulator. The higher the R-Value, the less the heat transference.

The final key component of the analytic process is the Shading Coefficient. This a comparison analysis of an untreated window and window that has solar control film attached. The lower the shading coefficient, the better the shading performance.

So, over the years, the expertise of solar control film manufacturers has increased dramatically. So the variety and effectiveness of sun control window films have improved as well.

Commercial Window Shield has been at the forefront of the solar control window installation business from the beginning. The company has been installing sun control window films since the late 1970s. Their projects have included scores of buildings in the Washington, D.C. area and elsewhere around the country.

One of the more high-profile recent projects was the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in the nation’s capitol. The building, one of the busiest convention centers in the country, had an issue with solar heat gain, glare and fading issues with furniture, carpet and artwork. Commercial Window Shield was tasked with installing 42,000 sq. ft. of solar control film to the convention center’s windows.

The project called for an experienced contractor with special expertise in window film applications. After reviewing several bidders, Commercial Window Shield was chosen based on its proven track record and ability to engineer and execute large and complicated installations in the solar control film arena. The project specifications called for 3M film to be installed on the exterior surface of all the building’s windows. However, Commercial Window Shield’s approved alternative plan called for a 3M equivalent film to be installed on the interior surface of the windows. Again, it was the company’s expertise and experience in sun control window protection that convinced the building’s management it was the right company for the project.

Over the years, Commercial Window Shield has had a number of high-profile solar control installation projects at museums including the National Gallery of Art and the main library at Yale University, which houses an important rare book collection.