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We want to kick off May, Skin Cancer Awareness Month, talking about protecting your skin from the harmful effects of the sun. Protecting your skin from the sun is a serious matter. While fad diets and pop science tout “cancer preventing” super foods with difficult to pronounce names, protecting yourself from the most common type of cancer really comes down to blocking UV rays. Skin cancer affected more than 5.4 million people in the United States in a single year, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year than all the other cancer types combined, and one in five Americans will develop it by the age of 70. Because this risk is so great, we wanted to offer some skin cancer prevention steps you can take to protect yourself while on the go, at home, and on the job.

Vehicle UV Protection

The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that over 50% of skin cancers manifest on the left side of the body. Researches attribute this split to our sun exposure while driving in the car. Given that AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that the average American spends 17,600 minutes driving each year, that’s a lot time for one half of your body to be receiving more UV radiation than the other.

To prevent skin cancer, always keep sunscreen in your car and apply before driving. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends applying a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 and reapplying every two hours. Sunscreen is critical, because at least 50% of UVA rays can pass through glass, and even though they aren’t as intense as UVB rays, UVA rays are 30 to 50 times more common than UVB.

Another option is having a professionally installed window film installed. This is an even better way to filter the UV radiation that causes most types of skin cancer, because it filters all the time without the need for reapplying every two hours. In addition, many professionally installed window films are recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation. You can check out their article on using window film for sun protection by clicking HERE.

At-Home UV Protection

Speaking of windows, our homes are another place where we’re exposed to the sun’s rays. Untreated windows let in rays that wash out your furniture and damage your skin, so take precautions. Apply sunscreen if you’ll be sitting in a sunny area, and never bring a tanning bed or UV-based light into your home. If you have concerns about the UV impact in your house, you might even consider installing UV sensors.

An easier solution is to have a window film installed to block out up to 99.9% of those damaging rays. Because films put a barrier between your home and the sun, they reflect heat from the exterior and trap it inside during the winter.

For more information on the benefits of window films for protecting your home, check out the Skin Cancer Foundation’s blog post on the topic.

UV Protection on the Job

While you’re on the job, you’re still being affected by damaging rays. If your business has a storefront, a window film will block those rays and protect your merchandise and furniture from becoming washed out, while also saving you energy costs.

If you’re lucky enough to sit by a window while you work, don’t forget to consider windows film or a broad-spectrum sunscreen reapplied regularly. If neither these options is feasible, try and situate your workspace where you won’t be sitting directly in the sun.

If you work outside, sunscreen is especially important! The Skin Cancer Foundation found that 85% of melanomas and 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers come from exposure to UV radiation, so if you’re working full time outdoors, your risk will increase exponentially.

We hope you found this article on skin cancer prevention steps informative as we begin Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Our company is proud to offer professionally installed window films for your home and office to help protect your skin.

If you would like more information about our home window films, you can contact us by calling 801-810-8468 or email us at info@shadedglass.com. We are located in Orem, Utah and cover the surrounding area.

Energy Efficiency Claims and Real Information From The Experts

When it comes to commercial buildings, statistics and data from reputable sources like the U.S. Department of Energy and ENERGY STAR are alluded to quite frequently. And some of this information can be quite overwhelming. When you hear some of these energy efficiency facts, how do you decide to take action within your own building?

Here, we explain how high-performance, low-e window film can address the energy efficiency statistics and claims that exist in our industry.

Claim: Approximately one third of a building’s cooling costs can be attributed to solar heat gain through windows.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

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How Window Film Helps: If buildings don’t have a way to reduce solar heat gain coming in through window glass, then cooling systems may be used more often to keep tenants and occupants comfortable. Using window film to reduce solar heat gain can make a big impact on cooling costs by helping to even out hot and cold spots, regulating temperatures near windows to improve thermal comfort, and reducing cooling requirements. Newer low-e films are designed to be spectrally selective, reducing a large portion of the sun’s infrared heat while allowing visible light to pass through.

Claim: HVAC systems account for roughly 41% of total commercial building electrical usage – almost double that of any other building system.

Source: Alliant Energy

How Window Film Helps: Reducing heating and cooling loads can lessen HVAC energy usage – and high-performance, low-e window film may help you accomplish this. After installation, you may notice reduced HVAC usage thanks to more controlled interior temperatures throughout the building. Another bonus? When you reduce loads, you also reduce stress on the system. The more often it runs, the faster the equipment may need repairs or replacement. When it runs less often, you can prolong the life of your HVAC system.

Claim: Energy costs represent 30% of a typical building’s annual budget and is the single largest operating cost.

Source: BOMA-Kingsley Quarterly/ENERGY STAR

How Window Film Helps: Operating costs include energy usage for HVAC, lighting, plug load, etc. And low-e window film can positively impact all of these factors. For example, uncontrolled daylight through window glass often causes tenants and occupants to shut blinds and shades. This may reduce the amount of natural daylight coming into the space, and place a higher demand on your electric lighting system. At the end of the month, you may notice higher utility bills if lighting has been turned on more often.

Claim: 80% of workers have trouble concentrating if the office temperature is higher than normal; nearly two-thirds say typical tasks may take up to 25% longer in warmer conditions.

Source: Cornell University

How Window Film Helps: As mentioned above, low-e window film can reduce plug loads – and here’s how. Unprotected glass can cause year-round indoor temperature fluctuations: warm temperatures in summer months due to solar heat gain, and cool temperatures in winter months due to thermal heat loss. If tenants or occupants are uncomfortable, they may resort to space heaters and fans to keep working environments at reasonable temperatures. As a result, your electricity bills go up. Installing low-e film may remove hot and cold spots, reduce solar heat gain and thermal loss, and allow tenants and occupants to keep blinds and shades open. When they are more comfortable and have access to natural light and views to the outdoors, workers may be more productive.

Claim: Inefficient windows are to blame for 25% to 35% of wasted energy in commercial buildings.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

How Window Film Helps: The poor insulating characteristics of glass make windows one of the worst-performing components of your building envelope. Low-e window film can improve comfort levels and save energy by improving window insulating power by up to 92%. The right low-e window film provides single-pane windows with the same insulating performance as double-pane windows (and double-pane windows with the same insulating performance as triple-pane windows), significantly increasing the R-value of existing windows.This data was shared

Information Provided by Steve Debusk, Global Energy Solutions Manager from Eastman Chemical Company.

We hope this article enlightened you on some energy efficiency issues and how commercial window film can help. If you have any questions or would like to arrange for a free, no obligation consultation and quote, please contact Shaded Glass today by calling 801-810-8468 or email us at info@shadedglass.com. We are located in Orem, Utah and cover the surrounding area.

In an article in Architect Magazine entitled “The Effects of Window Films Go Beyond the Surface” by Wanda Lau, she explains how a window film retrofit your existing windows can enhance their performance. We wanted to summarize that article to explain some of the ways window films upgrade existing windows with minimum disruption to a home or commercial space.

According to the article, “Window films can conjure up images of hazy purple film bubbling off of automobile glazing. In today’s buildings, however, they represent both an established and evolving technology that can significantly reduce solar heat gain and glare. By giving us daylighting and views, windows provide immeasurable boosts to our productivity and well-being. However, they also increase HVAC loads, which account for 39 percent of the energy that buildings consume, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. For older buildings with windows installed before the days of low-emissivity (low-E) and insulated glass, applied aftermarket films may be an effective alternative to window replacement, with paybacks as short as three years”.

In addition to the energy saving capabilities, window films can also be used to nearly eliminate UV rays which can have health benefits as well as act to protect your furnishings from sun fading. The article highlights this by saying “The ability of films to provide UV protection without affecting building aesthetics appealed to Phil Mark, director of preservation at Stratford Hall, the historic home of Robert E. Lee. In 2010, the Stratford, Va., plantation installed window film with a VT of 0.69 and a SHGC of 0.50 on 13 single-pane windows in an effort to protect interior finishes and the estate’s collections from UV damage. “You can hardly see it unless you know it’s there,” Mark says.

Window films have evolved as a great solution to upgrade existing windows with minimal disruption to a space. This solution also typically costs far less than a window replacement and does not result in the landfill impact of the existing windows needing to be disposed. With their ability to help save on energy and improve comfort while minimizing environmental impact, window films may not only be the most economical choice, they may be the most green choice for your home or commercial space.

We hope that you found this information on commercial and home window films useful. If you would like to learn even more about how a window film retrofit upgrades glass, call us at 801-810-8468 or email us at info@shadedglass.com. We would be happy to arrange a free, no obligation consultation and discuss how you can implement a window film solution in your space. We are located in Orem, Utah and service the surrounding area.

Ever had to squint your eyes from bright glare or struggle to maintain a comfortable temperature in a sunny room? How about wanting some additional privacy or security from a glass surface? If so, you may have thought about a product that might be applied to your windows to solve this issue. However, if you do even a quick Google search, you may end up more confused. What’s the difference between “window tint” and “window film” for your windows, and which is the right product to solve your issue? This article was written to help clear up this confusion and understand window tint and window film benefits and differences and whether one might be a good solution for you.

Window Tint vs Window Film

First, it is understandable that you might be confused. Even within the industry, these terms are often used interchangeably. However, newer technology actually dictates that it makes sense to differentiate between a “window tint” and a “window film”. Both window films and window tint are an alteration of existing windows and are applied to the window in place in the home or commercial space. There are a huge variety of these applied films. Some can be used to change the color or visible light transmission through the glass. We would typically refer to these as a window tint because they, to varying degrees, darken the glass to which they are applied. However, there are many other films that offer other benefits that do not entail darkening the glass at all. We would refer to these other products as window films.

So, depending on your needs, tastes and requirements, you might utilize a window tint or a window film. The proper thing to focus on would be the benefits these films provide. Once you determine what you need to accomplish, the proper product can be selected. Below you will find some of the more prominent benefits of window film and window tint.

Primary Benefits of Window Film / Window Tint

• Reduce Glare – Applying tint to your home or commercial windows can result in blocking significant amount of the sun’s glare from passing through the glass.
• Protect Furnishings – The sun’s UV rays penetrate through windows of your space. With prolonged exposure, furnishings, carpet, rugs and upholstery can become faded and damaged. Window films and window tint offers a great solution for fading issue as it typically blocks 99% of the UV while still allowing you to enjoy your windows.
• Energy Savings – Window film and tint can act as a window insulator keeping heat out in the Summer and retaining heat in the Winter. This can help decrease utility bills by reducing how hard heating and air conditioning systems need to work to keep the space comfortable.
• Increase Privacy – Window films can be used strategically throughout a space to offer additional privacy, add decor, integrate company branding or create visual breaks on any glass surfaces.
• Enhance Safety – Accidents happen and a window can be broken. When this happens with a typical window, the glass breaks in a way that can be dangerous. Safety window films can keep the broken glass in place and reduce the danger.
• Improve Security – Security window films exists that can provide some of the other benefits listed and make uninvited entry into the space more difficult. This makes these types of films a perfect compliment to a security system.
• Affordable Alternative to Window Replacement – At some point nearly any window may need to be replaced, but by using window films you may be able to significantly extend the useful life of existing windows while achieving the benefits you desire. Having a professionally installed tint or film applied is much less costly and far less disruptive to your space than window replacement.

If you would like more information or have any questions about window tint and window film benefits or their differences, contact us by calling 801-810-8468 or email us at info@shadedglass.com. We are located in Orem, Utah and service the surrounding area. We look forward to serving any window film needs you may have.

Based on information from The Skin Cancer Foundation, with over 5 million cases diagnosed in the United States each year, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. That is why observing May as Skin Cancer Awareness Month is so important. According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, the incidence of this disease reaching epidemic levels. Fortunately, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer. About 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 85 percent of melanoma cases are associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. By raising awareness of the dangers of unprotected exposure and encouraging sun-safe habits, we can change behaviors and save lives.

While fad diets and pop science tout “cancer preventing” super foods with difficult to pronounce names, protecting yourself from the most common type of cancer really comes down to blocking UV rays. Skin cancer affected more than 5.4 million people in the United States in a single year, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year than all the other cancer types combined, and one in five Americans will develop it by the age of 70. Because this risk is so great, we wanted to offer some skin cancer prevention steps you can take to protect yourself while on the go, at home, and on the job.

What Does The Skin Cancer Foundation Say?

You may wonder why we are sharing this information with you. What does window film have to do with skin cancer prevention? Actually, professionally installed window films are a given the Seal of Recommendation by The Skin Cancer Foundation as a safe and effective sun protection.

They warn that ultraviolet radiation can travel through car and home windows, where it can contribute to the daily accumulation of sun exposure that can lead to skin cancer and photoaging. UV-blocking films can not only protect you against this exposure, but can offer other benefits as well. Harmful ultraviolet rays (UVR) are sneaky. Not only can they cause skin cancer and visible signs of aging, they’re also very good at finding you. They can bounce off water, off sand, and they can penetrate glass.

Which means that even if you’re inside your home or at work, if you’re sitting next to a window with sunlight streaming in, you’re at risk for UV damage. Window film is an increasingly effective solution, offering substantial indoor protection by blocking up to 99.9 percent of UVA radiation.

We are happy to offer window film products that can help be part of the solution. We wanted to share this article and this information to do our part during Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Please share this article to help raise skin cancer awareness and educate friends and family one how a product like window film can help protect you in ways you never imagined.

At-Home UV Protection

Speaking of windows, our homes are another place where we’re exposed to the sun’s rays. Untreated windows let in rays that wash out your furniture and damage your skin, so take precautions. Apply sunscreen if you’ll be sitting in a sunny area, and never bring a tanning bed or UV-based light into your home. If you have concerns about the UV impact in your house, you might even consider installing UV sensors

An easier solution is to have a window film installed to block out up to 99.9% of those damaging rays. Because films put a barrier between your home and the sun, they reflect heat from the exterior and trap it inside during the winter.

For more information on the benefits of window films for protecting your home, check out the Skin Cancer Foundation’s blog post on the topic.

UV Protection on the Job

While you’re on the job, you’re still being affected by damaging rays. If your business has a storefront, a window film will block those rays and protect your merchandise and furniture from becoming washed out, while also saving you energy costs.

Lucky enough to sit by a window while you work? Don’t forget to consider windows film or a broad-spectrum sunscreen reapplied regularly. If neither these options is feasible, try and situate your workspace where you won’t be sitting directly in the sun.

If you work outside, sunscreen is especially important! The Skin Cancer Foundation found that 85% of melanomas and 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers come from exposure to UV radiation, so if you’re working full time outdoors, your risk will increase exponentially.

So, as we work through Skin Cancer Awareness Month, we hope you found this article informative and now understand how window films can play a part in your overall skin protection plan. Our company is proud to offer professionally installed window films to help protect your skin. If you would like more information on the products or services we offer, contact us today by calling 801-810-8468 or email us at info@shadedglass.com. We are located in Orem, Utah and service the entire surrounding area.

We have all felt the sting of higher prices lately. Whether at the grocery store, gas pump or in your monthly utility bills, costs are rising. We wanted to offer some information that may help you buck that trend and possibly see your energy bills go down this year. Several recent articles in major publications have experts agreeing that window films can help cut home energy bills. It’s one thing for us to say it, so we thought we would let the experts tell you what home window films can do.

What The Experts Say

From Reader’s Digest, in an article entitled “13 Clever Ways to Slash Your Home Energy Bills“, PJ Feinstein stated “If you have the money, replacing old windows with energy efficient ones is a worthwhile investment, as they also add value to your home. A lower-cost option is to install window film that blocks out the summer sun’s heat, reducing demand on your cooling system, and helps keep warm indoor air from escaping during the winter.”

In addition, the Orange County Register in California had an article entitled “4 Ways to Help Older Homes Meet New Energy Goals” in which green-building guru C.R. Herro stated “Install energy-efficient window film: These clear films filter out ultraviolet light, keeping homes warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. That will greatly improve your air conditioning costs,”

Herro also said. “It has additional benefits, since UVs bleach-out floors and break down fabrics. So it will improve the durability of things that get direct sunshine.”

Finally, the Fox News recently had an article entitled “7 Ways to Cool Your Home Without an Air Conditioner” their resident handyman said “Window films offer a ton of benefits, from cutting energy costs to providing you privacy while still enjoying the view and light of the great outdoors. They can provide up to 98 percent infrared heat reduction compared to unprotected windows, and reduce temperature imbalances in your home.”

With these experts taking about how window film can cut home energy bills, isn’t it worth you looking into it this Summer as the temperature rises? If you would like to learn more, click HERE and then contact us by calling 801-810-8468 or email us at info@shadedglass.com.

We would be happy to discuss the options with you and provide you with a free, no obligation quote of implementing a residential window tinting product into your Orem, Utah area home.

We’re passionate about window films and all of the problems they can solve! That is why we devoted our business to helping people solve these problems with window film solutions! Unfortunately, there are some common misconceptions about window film we hear somewhat regularly. As a result, we decided to write an article to address five common misconceptions about architectural window films and explain the facts behind these innovative products.

Myth 1: Window Films Are Not Durable

While it is true that some of the earliest produced window films had short shelf lives, modern window film is incredibly durable. Manufacturers of professionally applied window film offer warranties that cover any problems that arise with the product. In many cases, the warranty is 10 or more years in a commercial setting and often lifetime for a residential warranty. There are documented cases of window films lasting 25 years while still looking great and performing. Contact us for a full explanation of the warranties on the products that we offer.

Myth 2: Window Film Will Discolor Over Time

If you have an impression that window films will fade or change color over time, you’re likely remembering an older type of window film. Modern films utilize color stable technologies that keep your film looking great without discoloration for many years to come. Plus, your warranty will typically cover any discoloration issue, but it is unlikely you will have any problems in this area.

Myth 3: Window Films Are A Band-Aid Solution

This point piggybacks off our first myth, however window films aren’t a short-term, quick fix solutions that don’t last. As we mentioned, architectural window film lasts for many years and make existing windows perform better much more cost effectively than replacement. Also, window film can often be installed with much less disruption to your home or commercial space than window replacement.

Myth 4: Window Films Will Darken Windows

While it is true that you can choose tinted films that darken your windows in order to reduce unwanted light or glare, all films don’t have to include a noticeable tint to perform. Modern window films can do a great job of reducing excessive heat while barely being noticeable on the glass. Also, lighter UV-filtering films can be used to protect your skin and furnishings from harmful UV rays without necessarily altering a noticeable amount of the light. Modern architectural window film is great for both commercial and residential spaces that want to retain the existing look of the glass while keeping their occupants cool and typically stopping 99% of the sun’s harmful UV rays right at the glass.

Myth 5: Window Films Make Your Windows Shatter Proof

One thing we care a lot about is transparency (no pun intended), so we want to clear up the idea that a window film can 100% make your windows shatter proof. Window film can be great for holding damaged windows together after a shatter, which can reduce the risk of injury and maintain the envelope of the home or commercial space. However, please remember that a window film will not prevent your windows from breaking.

We hope that this article provided some useful information and cleared up any misconceptions you might have about architectural window films. If you have any questions, or would like to arrange a free, no obligation consultation at your home or commercial space, contact us by calling 801-810-8468 or email us at info@shadedglass.com. We would be glad to explain these innovative and functional window films available and help you get exactly the right film to fit your needs. We are located in Orem, Utah and service the entire surrounding area. We look forward to serving any window film needs you may have.

April is often referred to as Earth Month with Earth Day officially occurring on April 22nd each year. To help celebrate this month, we want to share some information on how to modernize commercial spaces to save energy with innovative window films. We will summarize some things in a recent article entitled “Modernize Your Office Building with Innovative Window Film” in Construction Review Online.

The article states the following about all the ways window films can be used. “When it comes to modernizing the windows in an office building, does the advantages of window film outweigh the material and installation costs? Absolutely! Commercial window tint can be used on almost any glass surface and it offers a variety of different benefits. Not only does window film block the sun’s heat and offer protection from harmful UV rays, it also minimizes the glare on your devices, reduces energy costs, and protects furnishings.”

It then specifically discusses how window films can help improve how “green” a building is by saving energy usage. “Whether you’re modifying a commercial space or a residential building, window film is an excellent way of cutting down on energy costs. How would you do that? Window film is made specifically to help prevent heat penetration, which enables your indoor spaces to be much cooler. In addition, window tinting also lowers HVAC consumption because it reduces the amount of heat that enters your space. That helps keep the temperature much regulated than other areas with non-tinted windows. In the end, less air conditioning use also suggests cutting back a generous amount of energy use, letting you save a huge amount of money on your monthly energy bills.”

If you would like to read the entire article, click HERE.

We hope that this article was enlightening on how retrofitting a window film to existing windows into your space can help you be a part of Earth Month by reducing your energy consumption moving forward.

If you would like more information about the commercial window films we use to modernize commercial spaces, click HERE. If you have questions or would like to arrange a free, no obligation consultation and estimate, please contact us by calling 801-810-8468 or emailing us at info@shadedglass.com. We are located in Orem, Utah and service the surrounding area.

In a recent issue of The Washington Post in their Home & Garden area they tackled the topic of how to prevent sun faded furnishings and floors. The main product they discussed in the article was window film. As a retrofit to your existing windows, window film can help control the three primary factors that cause fading; UV Rays, heat and visible light.

FADED OF THESE FLOORS AND FURNISHINGS WOULD WOULD BE A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT. PROTECT THEM WITH WINDOW FILM.

In the article, they state:

“Having window film installed on the inside of your windows could be the solution. These films come with a wide variety of characteristics, enabling them to let certain wavelengths of light through while reflecting or absorbing other wavelengths.

Window film cannot totally prevent fading because other factors, such as humidity, account for about 5 percent of the problem. But depending on the window film you select, it can go a long way toward reducing the problem. All films block virtually all ultraviolet rays from the sun, which are responsible for about 45 percent of fading. Films also can block the rays that together cause about half of fading: visible light and infrared light, which causes heat.”

You can check out the entire article by clicking HERE.

It is important to fully understand what is causing the sun bleaching to occur to choose a product that will genuinely help prevent sun faded furnishings and floors in your home. You can learn more about how film combats this problem by checking out an article we wrote located HERE.

If you would like more information on the benefits of using an applied window film to combat fading, contact us by calling 801-810-8468 or emailing us at info@shadedglass.com. We would be happy to discuss the options with you and provide you with a free, no obligation quote of implementing a window film into your Orem, Utah area home.