It is always good to see that other blogs, especially one as highly regarded as Treehugger, agree with your assessments.  In a previous article titled, New AC Unit vs Window Tint, we determined that window tint is much more affordable an better ROI (return on investment) than both a replacement AC or replacement windows.

At more than $5k for a new central AC unit or over $250 per replacement window, window film easily becomes the most economical choice at $2.25 per square feet for professional DIY window film.

Treehugger reports that National Trust for Historical Preservation states:

… a complete myth that replacement windows will save you money. In fact, they go so far as to say that the payback period for replacement windows is probably twice as long as the life of the window.

The preservation society offers more tips:

Readers sometimes write in ask about the differences between static cling film and standard window film.  Here is a comparison of the various factors you should consider when making a decision between the two types of window films.

Solar Heat Rejection Performance

Winner: Regular Window Tint

Static cling film is not as reflective as standard adhesive-based window tint.  This causes heat to be absorbed rather than reflected away from inside the house.  After periods of absorbing heat, sooner or later this heat will be transferred into the home as well.

Due to its non-reflective nature, static cling film should not be installed on dual pane windows unlike regular window tint.  This problem is especially troublesome as the standard for windows now are dual-pane construction.

UV Rejection Performance

Winner: Tie

Both types of film are generally block 99% of UV radiation.

Preserving your Window’s View

Winner: Regular Window Tint

The optical clarity of regular window film is much better than the thicker but removeable static cling film.  When installed, regular window tint looks as if there is nothing on the window at all, whereas there will be minor to major optical distortions with static cling films.

Installation and Maintenance

Winner: Tie

The major win for static cling film is that it is removeable; however, there are also negatives with this feature.  Due to its static nature, it is likely to adhere to dust and small debris particles.  When removing and reinstalling, great care needs to be taken to make sure that the film is kept clean before the next install.  Once static cling film is dirty, it is quite hard to get it clean again.

On the other hand, although regular window tint cannot be removed, the installation methodology for both films are nearly the same.  After installation, regular window tint does not need any special maintenance besides avoiding using harsh window cleaner or ammonia based products on it.

Winter Performance

Winner: Static Cling Film

This is where static cling film really shines.  Once removed, the winter sun can help warm up your home.  With regular window tint, the sun will continue to be weakened by the window tint.  Although regular window tint provides some insulation to the windows, this insulation effect is not as substantial.

A recent news article titled, Keep your condo cool if you want to garner a sizzling sale price, had me thinking about this comparison between a new air conditioner unit or window tint for a hot room.   Here is an exerpt:

So by now we are all wondering when this heat wave is going to break and give us some relief but for those of you selling, the heat can make your condo feel like a sauna. Here are some tips to cool your place down and keep buyers happy when then come through your home.

Usually, window film is recommended for your own personal enjoyment and comfort while living in your home.   I have forgotten that there is value of installing home tint that can be added to the sales price of your home just like any other home improvement.  Not to mention, home tint is an project that pays for itself.

Just a quick comparison to understand why window tint is strongly recommended by more and more people.  A standard window-mount 10,000 BTU AC unit would cost around $350 plus another $150 for installation for a total of $500.  This single AC unit can cool a medium to large room effectively.  For $500, you can purchase 200 square feet of professional grade window film at $2.50 a square foot that can block 99% UV and 65% of solar heat.  Assuming medium sized window dimensions of 3 feet by 4 feet, this would be approximately be around 16 windows that can be tinted.

Sixteen windows could be an entire floor of tinted windows!  Not to mention, tinted windows does not add to your monthly electrical bill to work.  The comparison becomes even more obvious when you consider some of the other options such as a new high efficiency AC unit ($5k-$12k) or new energy efficient windows ($200-$300 per window).

Well written article about low-e window film at grist.org.

The author sidesteps the issue of endorsing the film on home improvement stores in the original question.  Low-E film is a very specific type of window film.  It is best to purchase it from a reputable brand like SolarGard, Llumar, SunTek, etc… rather than using the non-professional brands from home improvement stores.

The article also states:

Low-e films should last about 10-15 years, can save you up to 10 percent of your electric bill, and can be applied without too much trouble on a small window but should be professionally smoothed on a larger window.

Window film application is not rocket science as demonstrated by this home tint installation video.  The most common error is not using enough of soapy water between the film and the  glass.  Without enough of this barrier, the film cannot move and slide into place.

The rule of thumb that we have been advising DIY window tinters is that any normal sized window that is less wide than your arms outstretched would not be that difficult to tint.  Windows wider than your arms outstretched will be easiest with two people.

Great signs for window film getting through to a broader audience in this article about a students pursuing a MBA at Climate Corps is evaluating installing window film.

Well, we’re MBA students, so that’s a start. But the bigger issue is that window film is expensive: I have seen estimates ranging from $3 to $12 per square foot (PG&E [PDF] does a good job of providing some ranges).

This can stall the conversation in leased buildings where the tenant pays the energy bills. In long lease situations, this may not be a problem: 3M says it generally takes two to six years for the energy savings to pay back the initial investment. However, in situations like mine where there is uncertainty over how long the company will remain in the building and where there are a lot of windows, the return on investment will be critical.

Tintcenter comment:

$12 is too high for window tint.  I know people think that they are buying a premium window film for this price, and indeed they are; however, the difference between performance between a $12 and a quality $4 film is only 10-15%.  Whereas the price difference is 200%.  Is this worth the cost?

Correspondingly, the payback period lengthens to 6 years when a $12 film is installed due to the high cost of the film.  TintCenter continues to recommend buying efficiently priced quality home tint and keeping the payback period around 2-3 years after installation.

Great article form the Hometown Annapolis newspaper detailing the steps you can take to keep a room cool:

1. Turn on the ceiling fan
2. Go from Auto to On for your AC fan only
3. Apply window film to windows

I agree with all the suggestions; however, I would rank the window film slightly higher to #2.  The reasoning is that the money spent on electricity can never be re-couped.  Whereas the money spent on window film can be earned back within 2-3 years by reduced electrical consumption.

There is only one point in the article I strongly object to:

It doesn’t have metal and hurls the heat out in summer and helps keep it in the house in winter. It’s called the Prestige Series and comes in at $8 to $12 a square foot of glass, depending upon the difficulty of application. So figure about 100 bucks a window and don’t forget the skylight.

$8 to $12 a sqauare foot is an extremely high price to pay for window film.  I wish the author of the piece did some more research to give a range of possible window film options.  This range should also include installing quality film in a DIY project.  Quality DIY window tint that is custom-cut to the sizes a homeowner needs range from $2.15 to $2.65 a square foot.  The application process for window film is really not very complex.  SnapTint.com provides an excellent window tint installation video that quickly explains the process.

At these DIY prices compared to the $8 to $12 for a professional, a homeowner can afford to install every window themselves 3-5 times over!

This is an excerpt from an excellent and lengthy article in the HeraldTribune.com detailing the various options for protection in hurricane-prone areas.   Often times, readers have the mental image of bulletproof glass in their minds.  They believe that the safety film product can just be added to a window to make it bulletproof.  This is a fallacy.

Window films have long been marketed erroneously for hurricane protection. In 2005, the International Window Film Association sent a notice to the Florida Attorney General’s Office warning that such films were not hurricane-proof.

But some companies, including several in Southwest Florida, still market the product as an alternative, rather than a supplement to standard hurricane protection.

“Unlike shutters or plywood, window film does not need to be installed each time a storm approaches,” claims a Sarasota-based company called The Window Film Specialists.

The company Web site compares film to shutters and cites numerous tests and approvals for the film, none of which include the Florida Building Code.

But company manager Randy Faust said the firm makes sure customers understand what they are buying.

“It’s not as strong as hurricane shutters; we don’t want anyone to be misled,” Faust said.

This is an excellent and researched opinion regarding the use of safety window film against hurricane damage.  TintCenter has always advised users that write in regarding safety films and hurricanes that safety film do offer some level of protection, safety film should not be relied as the primary defense against severe hurricane damage.  Safety window film should be thought of as secondary defense with benefits like holding together shattered glass in the event of substantial damage.

Although it sounds like a joke, but there is really is decorative window film designed with the leaves of the marijuana plant.  Sold by hipstuffnow.com, the Pot Leaf Window Film is an excellent addition to any home a way to subtly express your recreational activities.   Thanks to windowfilmmag.com for bringing this unique product to our attention.

On a serious note, decorative film is a great product to add privacy to your windows at the same time as a decorative touch.  Decorative films come in slightly varying flavors, some come with adhesive backing, others utilize static cling to stay on the glass.  Both types are easy to instasll and can add meaningful accents to bathrooms, kitchens, and even home offices.

Excellent and low-cost energy efficiency tip to keep a little more heat out from the garage.  Using simple insulating material can be applied to the panels on the garage door.  Additionally, window film can be applied to the windows to reject some more heat while still letting the natural sunlight in.

The only objection to the article is that it recommends purchasing window film from Lowes.  Lowes sells Gila brand film with is like the bastard step-child of prefessional grade film company called Llumar.  Professionals don’t use Gila film, and you should not either.

Look for pre-cut window tint companies like SnapTint.com, which is one of our advertising partners, that sells professional grade window film custom cut to the sizes you need.

This press release from SolarGard caught my eye today.  It was titled SolarGard Releases Nanotech-based Window Film for Cars that Blocks 99% of UV Rays. Although this sounds impressive, does it really mean that much?

What some people do not know is that most quality window films block 95+% of UV rays. Maybe the difference is performance?

It is stated that the SolarGard Ultra film can block up to half of solar energy.  The same can be said about SolarGard’s line of HP car tint as well.

Finally, it is not mentioned is that the SolarGard Ultra product costs 2-3 times the price of conventional film.

So is nano-tech window film worth the price?

TintCenter recommends against using nanotech for car tint, unless your state tint laws or personal preference require the tint to be very light rather than dark.