The TV show, This Old House had a segment re your issue.

Perhaps you could find the episode?

1. other options than replacing my windows? Trees are not possible as he built right to the edge of the lot line. We had screens on the windows and they still melted his siding. Are there are other types of screens that would stop this?

Do your current windows have exterior or interior screens? If they are casements and have interior screens then they won't help. Adding an exterior screen is often used to eliminate this problem (easiest and least costly solution), but if your screens are already exterior, and they didn't help, then maybe a different screen might help but also may not.

How far is his wall from your windows?

2. is there a type of vinyl he could use on his house that wouldn’t melt?

Yes and no, but probably no...vinyl siding can be manufactured with high temp resistant vinyl, but siding manufacturers are very reluctant to do so. I have heard that high temp siding does exist, but it's not easy to find (depending where you are) and a lot more expensive than standard siding.

Why am I responsible for changing my windows? My house was here long before his.

This one is tricky and potentially lawyers could get involved because this issue has gone to court elsewhere. As you said, you were there first - I would say that's a big plus for you.

Just as he wants you to pay for new windows, you could counter and suggest that he use steel siding and not vinyl, which could also eliminate the problem, versus you changing windows. Only at his expense and not yours since you were there first.

You could also suggest that he share cost with you if he insists on you "fixing the window problem" and he wants to stay with vinyl siding. Since his house was built well after yours, and was built at the wrong angle in the wrong place, you could legitimately argue that this is not your problem, but not everyone would agree with that.

3. Would Indoor solar shades mitigate the increased solar energy we will have removing the reflective windows?

No, you need to change solar reflection characteristics from the outside.

Who is the manufacturer of your windows?? If your windows have a manufacturer logo in one of the corners can you post a close up picture of it?

https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/las-vegas-hotel-pool-sunlight-swimming-tourists/story?id=11739234

No, you don't get to melt your neighbor's siding on his legally constructed home. You may have recourse against your builder or the window manufacturer, but your neighbor has done nothing but legally build next to his neighbor's death ray. This is none of his responsibility and if it's hot enough to melt siding it is an immediate fire hazard. Hurry please.

But do what? Change my windows? Add a film? We have screens already. Shouldn’t he or his builder be working to help me find a solution to work this out?

He can hang rain chains off of his soffits. He’s the one that built right to the property line. Which isn’t usual. It’s very unusual. Setback requirements are not usually 0 unless you’re in rowhouse territory. So that’s the first thing to check. What are the legal setbacks? And where is your property line? Because if he wasn’t so close, there wouldn’t be an issue.

Your house is 13 years old, why is it your responsibility? He can use cedar instead of vinyl.

"Shouldn’t he or his builder be working to help me find a solution to work this out?"

No. It's like you blaring very loud music towards him for the sin of legally building on his own property. It isn't music, it's sunlight. Buy a big 'ole awning. If the sun can't hit your window, it can't be death-rayed to his siding.

our local TV station did several spots on this very issue - when the windows actually caught landscaping on fire. (WRAL was the station)

I read your post because my uncle had a home that had your problem, except it was on his own home that his windows caused problem on his own home.. He ended up changing the window position, I think, maybe it was a fabric awning. His damage was subtle and took a while to figure out what was going on.

I found this.

https://windowfilmforturf.com/pages/how-to-stop-window-reflection-1

And

https://youtu.be/wOujG3ggr_4?list=PLyAoN0L9RTf-b6CNjLCu7V4IV4s056qFg

Joseph, I think the analogy doesn't quite fit. The windows have been in place for 13 years. This is not an elective behavior on the part of the owner.

It is irrelevant that the death ray didn't hit anything until a home was legally constructed next door.

There were some folks from the city who decided they needed to move to the country not far from where we live. They bought land to build a new home that happened to be next to a pig farm.

When the wind was right the odor could be over the top bad, but it was never bad when they visited their land prior to the build.

The new homeowner was very upset with the owners of the pig farm because the odors made it impossible to enjoy their new home and potential resale was in the toilet (pun intended), so they wanted the pig farm shut down because it "damaged" them.

Ultimately they went to court and the judge threw it out because the pig farmer, who was already there, wasn't responsible for where the new homeowners chose to build their new home.

If the gases in between the panes of glass were pressurized so the glass slightly bulged out to be convex, then the sun rays would be dispersed and not concentrated by the slightly concave surface of the glass that is causing the death ray.

https://youtu.be/oyis1tbBxBY

This Old House used a screen on the outside of a casement.

If I were liable for that, I'd be concerned what else I'd end up being stuck w/. His property being so close to the lot line, or directly on it or whatever--what kind of conundrum could happen there?

Actually, if you have casement windows your death ray could be really useful.

For example, you could turn your casements so that the death ray hits your neighbor's swimming pool, keep the water warm and toasty. Another opportunity would be to aim your death ray along the fence line and burn out any weeds growing there.

Use your imagination...

iGet some mirrors!

https://www.wral.com/-the-next-asbestos-scientist-says-low-e-windows-cause-dangerous-reflection/17553558/

Unfortunately - no fix - but it may appear that our location exacerbates the problem.

I have read that some would recommend capillary tubes to reduce the the hot glass effect. These could be retrofitted.

You say trees aren't possible because he built to the edge of the lot line but you have never indicated whether your house is built to the edge of the lot line or not. How close is his siding to your window exactly? Could you plant trees on your property to provide some shading? Could you install some type of retractable screen (like Phantom motorized screens or similar) that could be lowered during the times of the day when the sun is at an angle that reflects from your window onto his siding? What about functional shutters that can be pulled in when needed? Or a Bahama shutter?

It seems like there could be a variety of solutions to this issue. I see both your side and his side of it and I wouldn't let this issue be a relationship-killer because it's always nice to be on good terms with neighbors when possible.

https://modernize.com/home-ideas/35070/low-e-windows-problem-neighbors-vinyl-siding

Hi, Would awnings Work?

Good Luck Woodbutcher

I have read that some would recommend capillary tubes to reduce the the hot glass effect.

+1

Best case, the cap-tubes limit the amount that the glass can go concave when barometric pressure changes, thus preventing the light from focusing.