St. George Archives - Shaded Glass

Nov 08 2023

Reduce Home Energy Usage With These 4 Easy Tips

By Kaylynn Mower Residential Window Film

The news is often filled with reports that home energy prices are expected to rise significantly this coming year and how to reduce home energy usage. With these costs going up, it’s in everyone’s best interest to reduce the amount of energy we use. Not only do you reduce your carbon footprint and energy waste, you are also setting yourself up to save money on your utility bills. With that in mind, here are some of the most useful and practical ways you can save money and reduce energy usage.

4 Easy Ways To Reduce Home Energy Usage

Switch to LEDs – LED bulbs require an initial investment that puts some people off, but they’re a far more efficient and inexpensive solution long term. Not only do they last longer (some LEDs work for more than twenty years!), but they reduce the amount of energy you consume by up to 90% compared to traditional incandescent bulbs. Plus, rather than burning out in a sudden flash, LEDs experience a more gradual decline that makes them easier to live with when they need replacement. Just by swapping out one bulb for an LED model, you’ll reduce your energy bill for that light source by 30-80 dollars over the course of the bulb’s life.z
Have Home Window Film Installed – This is where we come in, Did you know that modern window films are retrofitted to your existing windows and come in a variety of energy-conserving styles that reduce your energy usage by putting barriers between your home and the outside world? Professionally installed window films block nearly 80% of the sun’s heat, which can really help lower the interior temperature and the amount of air conditioning you need. In addition, during the winter, some low-e window film options help create an insulating layer on your windows to trap your home’s heat inside the house and reduce your heating bill.As a side benefit, most home window films block 99% or more of the sun’s UV rays which can help reduce the impact of cancer causing rays that damage skin as well as fade furnishings and flooring. Go with a pro who can make sure that the films are installed correctly and get you the best possible return on investment by choosing the right film for your application.
Switch to Time-Based Electricity Rates – To cut down on peaking power usage, some utility companies encourage customers to use electricity during off-peak hours. The energy company saves money during high-use hours and the customer receives those savings through rebates or lowered electricity rates. By using energy when others aren’t, you reduce consumption needs during busy times and help keep energy usage balanced for everyone.These programs are especially useful for people with electric or hybrid cars that recharge overnight, but it’s just as easy for people who can easily do things like run dishwashers overnight rather than during the day, for example. Also, technology like home window film mentioned above helps reduce energy usage from the sun’s heat during the peak hours you are trying to limit your consumption.
Kill “Energy Vampires” – Did you know that appliances leech energy even when they’re powered down? Large appliances like fridges, desktop computers, and especially televisions can be draining power even when they’re off, to the extent that as much as 20% of your electric bill can come down to this “vampire power” usage. Turns out that every appliance that stays plugged in is pulling electricity, and most appliances continuously use energy even when “off” to perform updates, connect to servers, and record data. To reduce your energy leaks, be sure to unplug all your devices that you can when you’re not using them. This is easier if you’re using a power strip that allows you to quickly flick off appliances without reaching down and physically unplugging them.

We hope this article helped you with some ways you can reduce home energy usage beginning tomorrow. Our company specializes in helping homeowners improve the energy efficiency and comfort of their homes utilizing modern window film technology. If you have any questions or would like more information, please click HERE. If you have any questions, call us at (801) 810-TINT(8468) or email us at info@shadedglass.com. We would be happy to provide a free, no obligation consultation and estimate of implementing a window film solution in your Orem, Ogden or Salt Lake City, Utah home.

Sep 14 2023

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How To Upgrade Home Windows Without Replacing Them - Home Window Tinting in Orem, UT

1 Great Way To Upgrade Home Windows Without Replacement

By Kaylynn Mower Residential Window Film

Upgrade Home Windows Without Replacing Them

Did you know that Energy.Gov states that 30% of a home’s heating and cooling costs can be lost through windows that are not energy efficient? With home fuel costs going through the roof, you may be considering the purchase of energy-efficient replacement windows.

However, before you spend thousands of dollars, there is a way to upgrade home windows without replacing them.

When your goal is to improve energy efficiency, retrofitting energy-saving window film to your existing windows provides an affordable alternative to window replacement. Home window films can help windows that are otherwise in good shape, but just not as energy efficient as you would like.

If you windows are damaged or deteriorating, they will need to be replaced. Assuming that window film is a viable option, the cost for quick, professional installation of energy saving window film is about 1/5th the cost of replacement windows!

2 Ways Residential Films Help Save Energy

Energy-saving window film can also lower your home’s cooling costs by reducing the heat coming through the windows in warmer months.
Specific Low-E window films can help retain interior heat in the cooler months.

In these two ways, home window film helps reduce house energy consumption, which saves money and also helps the environment. In addition, retrofitting window film is much less disruptive than window replacement and is better for the environment than the landfill impact of removal of the existing units.

Additional Ways Window Film Can Upgrade Home Windows

UV Protection: Window films can block up to 99% of harmful UV rays, which can help to protect your furniture, flooring, and artwork from fading. UV rays can also contribute to skin cancer, so window films can also provide a layer of protection for your family.
Added Privacy: Window films can be used to create daytime privacy without blocking out all of the natural light. This can be a great option for homes with young children or pets, or for homes that are located near busy streets.
Additional Security: Window films can make your windows more difficult to break through, which can deter burglars.

Choosing a home window film to upgrade your windows without replacing brings benefits all the way around.

You can find out more information about home window films by clicking HERE

If you are interested in learning how window films can upgrade home windows, please contact us today by calling 801-810-8468 or emailing us at info@shadedglass.com for a free, no obligation consultation and estimate of implementing window film. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have about window film, the installation process and the products that we use to upgrade your Orem, Utah area home.

Aug 31 2023

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Why Does Sunlight Fade Things? 1 Way To Preserve Furnishings.

By Patric Fransko Residential Window Film

Can You Fully Enjoy Your Windows as Preserve Furnishings at the Same Time?

Most people love the open an airy feeling that lots of windows can create. Unfortunately, this open feeling often come with undesirable elements. Primarily, faded flooring, furniture, artwork, etc. So, what can be done so you can let the sun shine in and still preserve furnishings? That is what this article is all about. We want you to understand what is causing the problem and then explore how a home window tint or film just might be the solution you are looking for.

Why Does Sunlight Fade Things? 1 Way To Preserve Furnishings. - Home Window tint and Film Services in Omaha, Nebraska The four primary causes of faded furnishings are:

Ultraviolet (UV) Rays (40%) – UV rays are the primary cause of fading in most materials. They can penetrate glass and damage the dyes and fibers in fabrics, carpets, and other materials.
Heat (25%) – Heat can also damage furnishings, especially fabrics and carpets. When heat is combined with UV rays, it can speed up the fading process.
Visible Light (25%) – Visible light can also cause fading, but to a lesser extent than UV rays. Visible light can break down the bonds in dyes and pigments, causing them to lose their color.
Pollutants (10%) – Pollutants in the air, such as ozone and nitrogen dioxide, can also cause fading. These pollutants can react with the dyes and pigments in materials, causing them to lose their color.

In addition to these 4 primary causes, there are other factors that can contribute to fading, such as:

The Type of Material – Some materials are more susceptible to fading than others. For example, fabrics with bright colors or delicate dyes are more likely to fade than fabrics with muted colors or durable dyes.
The Amount of Exposure to Sunlight – The more exposure to sunlight, the more likely a material is to fade.
The Environment – The environment can also affect the rate of fading. For example, materials are more likely to fade in hot, dry climates than in cool, humid climates.

How can a home window film help?

A properly selected window film attacks the three largest factors in fading. Nearly all modern window films will block 99% or more of the UV Rays. Then, depending on the window film technology chosen, they can reduce the visible light and heat elements as well. The combination of reducing these three largest fade factors results in a greater longevity of your furnishings even if exposed to sun through the windows. It should be noted that nothing can stop fading completely, other than keeping an item in a dark and temperature controlled room, window film can allow you to reduce these elements enough to be able to enjoy your windows and take a big step to preserve your furnishings.

Here are some additional tips for protecting your furnishings from fading:

Keep Furnishings Out of Direct Sunlight – While this is the best way to prevent fading, it is not always possible or desirable. When you cannot keep furnishings out of direct sunlight, that is when window film can be a great option.
Rotate Furnishings Regularly. This will help to prevent the same areas from being exposed to the sun’s rays all the time.
Clean Furnishings Regularly. This will help to remove dirt and dust, which can accelerate fading.

We hope this brief post shed some light on what the factors of faded floors, rugs and furniture are and how utilizing window film is one of your best options to preserve furnishings. If you would like to learn more about how home window films can help to preserve furnishings, click HERE. If you have any questions about this article or would like to schedule a free, no obligation quotation, contact us today by calling (801) 810-8468 or emailing us at info@shadedglass.com.

Aug 17 2023

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Home Window Films Can Save Money On Cooling Your House

By Patric Fransko Residential Window Film

Can Home Window Films Help Save You Money On Cooling Your House?

Have you noticed the size of your utility bills lately? The warm Summer weather is something many of us look forward to all year long, but it can also bring higher energy bills as we use our air conditioning to keep our home cooler and comfortable. With that in mind, we wanted to share some ways that home window films can help save you on home energy costs this Summer season and beyond.

We discuss how window film can reduce the load on your air conditioning system which saves you money on utility bills and also on HVAC system maintenance.

Home Window Films Can Save Money On Cooling Your House - Residential Window Tint & Film The first thing we want to explain is how home window films work to reduce the load on your air conditioning system. The simple explanation is that window film installed on your existing windows reduces the amount of the sun’s heat coming into your home by passing through the glass.

On a hot Summer day, this excessive heat pass through might have your air conditioning system struggling to keep up with the demand and keep your home’s interior comfortable.

Unfortunately, this demand for air conditioning is also happening all throughout your area at the same time. This spike in demand for energy allows the utility company to charge a premium on the energy you use during this peak period.

Now, the good news. Home window film is very effective at reducing the heat making its way into your home through the windows through absorption or reflection.

By stopping a great deal of the heat at the glass, your air conditioning will not having to work as hard to keep your home comfortable. By the HVAC not having to work as hard, you will not use as much energy

In addition, as a result of reducing the heat entering the home, the home’s air conditioning system will not need to run constantly to keep up with demand. As mentioned, this not only saves you money on energy costs, but will also save you system maintenance costs from excessive wear and tear. The air conditioning unit consists of numerous components that each have an effective service life.

The longer, and harder, a unit is forced to run, the faster these parts wear out and need replacing. Furthermore, as parts degrade they often do not work as efficiently as they did when new. The resulting system inefficiency translates into higher energy usage to get the same results in home cooling.

Our hope is that this brief article shed some light on how home window films can help save on home energy costs and system maintenance this Summer and for many years to come. If you would like more information about home window films and how they can be implemented into your house, click HERE.

If you have any questions about this article or would like to schedule a free, no obligation quotation, contact us today by calling (801) 810-8468 or emailing us at info@shadedglass.com. We service the Orem, Ogden, St. George and Salt Lake City areas of Utah.

Aug 03 2023

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Commercial Decorative Window Film For Privacy & Branding

By Kaylynn Mower Commercial Window Film

With so many commercial spaces being re-imagined after the pandemic, many have been considering custom glass panels for privacy, branding or design. We wanted to share 5 reasons why commercial decorative window film is a great choice for accomplishing this. Check out the details below to learn more.

5 Reasons Commercial Decorative Window Film Is A Great Choice

Retrofittable to Existing Glass – You can avoid the excessive cost of removing your existing glass and replacing it with a custom piece of glass as decorative glass film is applied to your existing glass panel.
Nearly Unlimited Options – Unlike actual custom glass, designs using decorative glass film are nearly limited by only your imagination. Through the use of potter cut film or custom printing, your dreams can truly become reality.
Cost Effective – Even basic custom glass panels can get costly. However, decorative glass film allows you to implement much more intricate and involved designs at a fraction of what having a custom piece of glass would cost.
Much Easier to Clean – When the actual glass panel is customized to give a frosted or sand blasted look, it creates a rough surface in the glass. This surface attracts dust, oil from people’s hand, etc. and begins to look dirty over time. As the dirt becomes embedded in the surface, it becomes harder to remove it completely and keep the decorative panel looking clean. On the other hand, designs utilizing decorative glass films are easily cleaned so that they continue to look as good as the day they were installed.
Easily Removable or Replaceable – Unlike a piece of custom glass, decorative glass film can be removed if desired from the glass panel to which it is applied. This makes it ideal for leased spaces and office space where the use of particular areas and design may change over time.

Overall, commercial decorative window film is a versatile and effective way to improve the look, privacy and design in your commercial space. It is a cost-effective option that can provide a variety of benefits. Here are a couple more reasons to consider this innovative product.

Added Privacy: Decorative window film can provide privacy without blocking out all natural light. This is ideal for offices, conference rooms and other areas where you need to control who can see inside.
Enhanced Branding and Design : Decorative window film can be used to promote your business or brand and enhance the decor of your space. You can choose a custom film with your company logo or other branding elements, or you can create a custom design that looks great.

If you would like more information or have any questions regarding decorative window film and all the possible ways you can utilize it, click HERE and the contact Shaded Glass today by calling 801-810-8468 or emailing us at info@shadedglass.com. We can provide you with a free, no obligation assessment and estimate on the work you are considering. We are based in Orem, Utah and proudly service the surrounding area.

Jul 07 2023

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Deter Active Shooter Situations With Security Window Film

By Patric Fransko Security Film

Security window film can help to deter active shooter situations. This is possible because these films can make it more difficult for an active shooter to gain entry into a building, and can also help to slow down the shooter, giving people more time to contact authorities, evacuate or take shelter.

Security window film is a transparent film that is applied to glass. It is designed to increase the strength and durability of the glass, making it more difficult to break. Security window film can also help to hold broken glass in place, reducing the risk of injury.

In the event of an active shooter, security window film can help to:

Make it more difficult for the shooter to gain entry. The film can make it more difficult to break the glass, and can also help to slow down the shooter if they do manage to break the glass.
Slow down the shooter. If the shooter does manage to gain entry, the film can help to slow them down, giving people more time to evacuate or take shelter.
Protect people from flying glass. If the glass does break, the film can help to hold the glass in place, reducing the risk of injury.

Security window film is not a foolproof way to prevent active shooter attacks, but it can be a valuable tool in deterring and slowing down shooters, and can help to protect people from injury.

Here are some of the benefits of using security window film to deter active shooter situations:

It can make it more difficult for the shooter to gain entry. The film can make it more difficult to break the glass, and can also help to slow down the shooter if they do manage to break the glass.
It can slow down the shooter. If the shooter does manage to gain entry, the film can help to slow them down, giving people more time to evacuate or take shelter.
It can protect people from flying glass. If the glass does break, the film can help to hold the glass in place, reducing the risk of injury.
It can deter shooters from targeting a particular location. If a location is known to have security window film, it may deter shooters from targeting that location.

If you are considering using security window film to deter active shooter situations, be sure to do your research to find the right type of film for your needs. There are many different types of security window film available, each with its own unique benefits. We can help guide you through the process.

Here are some factors to consider when choosing security window film to deter active shooter

The level of security you need. How much security do you need? Do you live in a high-crime area? Do you have valuables that you need to protect?
The size and type of windows you have. Not all security window film is created equal. Some films are better suited for certain types of windows than others.
Your budget. Security window film can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. You will need to decide how much you are able to spend on security window film.

If you would like more information or have any questions about how window film can deter active shooters and improve school security and student safety, please contact us by calling (801) 810-8468 or email us at info@shadedglass.com. We would be happy to provide you with a free property assessment and estimate for your Orem, Ogden, St. George, and Salt Lake City, Utah area school.