Green Matters™
by Crissy Trask
Welcome to my blog where I share almost anything I think will help make greener living undeniable and simple. News, tips, insight and resources served up weekly. I also share my perspectives on others' perspectives and actions. Agree or disagree, I hope you will find them thought-provoking and a starting point for conversation.
Previous Post...Next Post...Information on Reprints...2010 Blog
APRIL 7, 2009 Window Films Can Lower Your Cooling Bills and Your Tax Liability
Unprotected, energy inefficient windows can transmit more than 80% of the solar energy hitting them into your home, super heating it and causing your cooling equipment to work harder. And if you cool passively, using natural breezes, solar heat gain can sabotage your efforts to keep cool without expensive mechanical cooling equimpment.
Energy efficient, low-e windows designed for low solar heat gain can lower cooling costs by a significant amount, but they are expensive, costing between $350 and $495 for an average-sized window. For a fraction of the cost of replacing windows you can install reflective window film to south and west facing windows to block solar heat gain. Professionally-installed window film costs around $130 to $180 for an average-sized window.
Installing window film yourself is possible, but not recommended. Generally, if the film is not professionally installed, the warranty is invalid, and getting the film smooth takes some skill. You don't want your windows to look like they have film on them, only perform like to do!
Consumers who purchase qualifying energy control window film for their home between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2009 are eligible for a 2009 tax credit up to $1500.
Resource: Window Film Information Center
2009 BLOG INDEX
Posts by Topic
Air Quality
6/8/09, Leaf Blowers:
An Environmental Nightmare
Cleaning
4/14/09, Don’t
Be So Quick to Blame the Low-Phosphate Detergent
Energy
7/6/09, It’s Summer
Time and the Livin’ is ‘Green’!
4/7/09, Window Films Can Lower Your
Cooling Bills and Your Tax Liability
3/14/09, Bundle Your
Gadgets
Food
10/27/09, Super
Freakonomics Authors Come Down Hard on Local Food
10/22/09, Hey Foodies, What
Are You Feeding Your Pets?
Green Terms
5/26/09, A Closer Look
at the Definition of “Recycled” and Some Other “Re”
Words
Plastic, and other Trash
7/13/09, Will a
Ban on Bottled Water Lad to Bad Beverage Choices?
4/22/09, Bottled Water
Gets Reinvented
3/2/09, Inefficient Packaging
Awards (No. 1)
Perspectives
9/14/09, Gullibility
is Derailing Progress
8/24/09, Check
Your Lifestyle Before Bragging About Recycling
8/19/09, Simple
Solutions Won’t Work Alone: Comprehensive is the True Agent
of Change
2/22/09, The Unhappiest Generation
2/12/09, Inauguration
Attendees Fail to Demonstrate Change
Reduce
8/5/09, Direct
Mail Marketers Want to Force Junk Mail on Us
3/21/09, Better
Yard Sales
1/25/09, Wasting Trees:
Why I Hate Junk Mail
Reuse
10/14/09, Wrapping
with Your Butcher
5/7/09, Craigslist
Buyers are A Flakey Bunch on the Whole
Recycling
6/22/09, Not
Separating Your Recyclables from Your Trash Can Hurt
3/4/09, Recycle Your
Water Filters
Transportation
6/15/09, Avoid
Hot Car Syndrome to Reduce Emissions…and Discomfort
Water
3/27/09,
Water, Water Everywhere, but Not a
Drop…
Blog Archives