river

I had this done to my first home back in 1993 - same kinda of house orientation. I don't know the % of savings, but I do know that the house was dramatically cooler in the summer. I had all of the west and south facing windows done. I also had a skylight done in the master bathroom with a higher reflective tint - and that was a huge difference. Before it was done you couldn't go into the master bathroom during the day without baking - it was always hot in there. After tinting, cool as other rooms.

I don't know the delta benefit of the film products if you already have low-e glass. The windows and doors we had back then were not low-e. But then I replaced a few patio doors a number of years later that had low-e glass. I figured out that the low-e provided almost the same capability as the non low-e with the film I used(which was in the middle of the tint range they offered.) You might want to research that.

I do have the low e glass but there is a considerable amount of heat gain still coming into the house. My ac hardly cycles during a hot day but in the evening when the outside temp is 95+ it runs for quite some time. I think the low e glass is good but I always look for better. Its a bad habit.

I just had additional insulation blown into my attic for a total of 16". I am here to tell you that it definitely has made a difference. Now this window issue is next.

I put window film up on all my east and west-facing windows back in April. Did it myself with film from one of the box stores. Easy to do, but hard to do really well.

But I'm amazed at the difference in heat load. I would guess the heat gain on sunny days was cut in half, maybe even more. I recommended it to everyone I know.

I'd expect your savings to be even more, given where you live, compared to here in PA.

If the government were serious about energy savings, this stuff would be mandatory.

Just make sure you research the stats on the film, so you know they're giving you the best film for your money.

"I just had additional insulation blown into my attic for a total of 16". I am here to tell you that it definitely has made a difference."

Additional insulation in the attic has helped keep your home cooler in the Summer?

"Additional insulation in the attic has helped keep your home cooler in the Summer?"

Absolutely!

Yes, attic insulation helps in Summer. The attic is hotter than the house, and you want to keep the heat from conducting through the ceiling and then heating up the house below.

river

what kind of blown insulation did you use - was it fiberglass or cellulose?

thanks

I had fiberglass insulation blown in. We originally had r30 bats in the attic. The new stuff is lying ontop of the bats. I wish I had researched insulation before the house was built but all is well now.

My wife likes windows and we installed a bunch which of course does not help my electric bill. Thats why we are looking into window film. Our electric rates here are .16 perkwh and supposedly they will go to .25 per kwh here pretty soon.

Manufacturers of low-e glass state not to add tint film to their products. It causes excessive heat and makes the seals fail. It will void most warranties and asks for future problems. Check with your window manufacturer, builder or manuals first.

You should look into solar screens for this purpose.

Why not just use horizontal blinds angled upwards into the room so no direct sunlight comes in?

because the savings is in beating the heat BEFORE it gets inside to the living/conditioned space.

glad to see that this was posted:
"Manufacturers of low-e glass state not to add tint film to their products. It causes excessive heat and makes the seals fail. It will void most warranties and asks for future problems. Check with your window manufacturer, builder or manuals first."

I agree with this 100%, and was thinking the same thing when I saw this post.
adding tint to double paned windows causes failures of Insulated Glass Units (IGU's).

Solar screens and low e...if low e coating is on correct glass surface solar screens wouldn't be needed.
check to see that low e is located on correct glass surface for your area.
www.nfrc.org is the non biased independent rating system for windows. their stickers include climate specific info.

External solar screens do help low-e glass windows. Low-e windows operate in the same manner as radiant barriers in attics. The low-e refers to low emissive, where even when the surface of the glass (or radiant barrier) becomes hot, it will limit the amount of heat that it will radiate (emit). However, you will still gain heat by conduction to the air moving across the surface of the glass and the glass does not stop all infrared transmission of heat. The solar screens will help a lot in that respect. Solar screens are the best means of limiting heat gain through windows we currently have.

Solar screens can make a big difference, especially with west-facing windows. They're expensive to have done, but not bad if you make them yourself (assuming no windows with arched tops). You can buy the screening and frame pieces at Home Depot, and build them to whatever size you need.

"because the savings is in beating the heat BEFORE it gets inside to the living/conditioned space."

Wouldn't light colored blinds bounce the light (and I assume heat energy) back outside instead of inside the home?

light colored blinds, reflective blinds, insulated curtians.. still allow heat into the space between the window and the blind.
keeping the heat out..shutters, low e. solar screens
are better choices.
many choices are dependent on personal situation
and will always vary.

Plantings in the yard can have up to a 30% reduction
on cooling costs..again keeping the heat out of the house.

the bananna trees in my front yard keep full sun from
the front of my house starting in mid June. makes a difference in cooling the west facing front.

please note that I am in a 9 month cooling climate.
I do get some wicked north winds in the winter
and have plantings of evergreens to make a wind block
to help divert north winds from my home.

there are lots of choices, you just have to find
what works for you.
some choices can be combined, others are counter productive.