How Can Buildings Reduce Window Heat?

Window film is one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to reduce heat in your home or office building. Not only do window films save you time and money, but they also benefit the environment — while increasing  the aesthetic value of your building. 

Professional installation of high-quality heat reduction window films doesn’t have to be complicated. First, the correct 3M window film product needs to be recommended by a certified dealer, like Window Film Depot.  In this post, we’ve compiled the basic science of window heat transfer, the most effective ways to reduce window heat, plus five excellent options for heat reduction window film that cater to residential and commercial properties alike.

Read on learn about:

Understanding Window Heat Transfer
Most Effective Ways to Reduce Window Heat
Heat Reduction Window Shades vs. Window Film
How Well Does Temperature Control Reduction Film Work?
Window Heat Reduction Installation Options
Interior Installation with Window Heat Reduction Film Kits
Exterior Installation with Retrofit Heat Reduction Window Films
5 Best Window Films for Heat Reduction
3M Residential Ceramic Sun Control Window Film
3M Sun Control Night Vision Series Window Film
3M Residential Sun Control Prestige Exterior Series
3M Residential Sun Control Neutral Series
3M Commercial Traditional Sun Control Series
Understanding Window Heat Transfer
Generally, heat transfer occurs when there is a temperature difference between two objects or spaces, flowing from hot to cold. Heat transfer occurs in three ways:

Conduction: The movement of heat through a solid material.
Convection: The movement of heat due to the movement of fluid.
Radiation: The movement of heat through absorption, reflection, or transmission through electromagnetic waves, mainly in the infrared region.
Naturally, the rules of heat transfer also apply to windows. As interior spaces warm up in winter months, windows transfer heat outside; during hotter summer months, meanwhile, windows absorb heat, warming up air-conditioned spaces and forcing HVAC systems to work harder.

The effects of heat transfer can be extremely detrimental on home temperature costs. According to the Department of Energy, about 30% of a home’s heating energy is lost through windows, while about 76% of sunlight that falls on standard double-pane windows enters to become heat in cooling seasons. To increase heat reduction, property-owners have several options to apply to their windows.