Solar Control Window Film on Houston Commercial Glass

Solar Heat Gain and Houston Commercial Cooling

Commercial buildings in Houston carry heavy cooling loads for most of the year. People, lighting and equipment add heat inside, and glass adds solar heat from outside. On a building with large west or south elevations, the windows can be one of the biggest single sources of cooling load on a sunny afternoon.

Solar control film reduces the solar heat gain coefficient of existing glass. It works by reflecting part of the sun's energy and absorbing some, then re-radiating that absorbed heat away. The result is less solar energy entering the building, lower peak cooling demand on perimeter zones and fewer comfort complaints from occupants near the glass.

Humidity adds to the picture. Commercial systems in Houston spend a lot of their capacity drying the air, and when solar gain pushes perimeter zones hard on sunny afternoons, the system has less headroom for moisture control. Trimming the solar load at the glass gives the equipment a little more room to do both jobs.

Solar Control Film on Curtain Walls in Uptown, Downtown and the Energy Corridor

Houston's office towers and mid-rises often have insulated glass units in curtain-wall systems, sometimes with factory coatings and tints. Adding film to those units requires care. The film raises the temperature of the glass it is applied to, and on large insulated units, especially ones partly shaded by mullions or adjacent buildings, uneven heating increases the risk of thermal stress cracks.

We review the glass makeup, often from the building's original specifications, and compare it with the film maker's compatibility guidance before recommending a product. In some cases an exterior-applied film or a spectrally selective interior film is the safer choice. Any decision on a tower curtain wall should involve the building engineer.

Solar Control Film for Houston Low-Rise and Retail Buildings

Not every commercial building is a tower. Houston has thousands of single-story and two-story office buildings, retail centers, warehouses with office fronts, schools and churches, many with single-pane tinted glass from the 1970s through the 1990s. That glass absorbs heat but does little to reject it, and it is often a good match for solar control film.

On those buildings, film can make a large difference to comfort near the windows and to cooling runtimes. It is also much less disruptive than replacing windows, and the work can be scheduled around business hours. Schools can be filmed over a summer break and churches between services. Offices can be done in an evening.

• Single-pane bronze and gray commercial glass
• Clear storefront glass in older strip centers
• School and church windows facing west
• Office fronts on warehouse and flex buildings

Reflective Versus Spectrally Selective Solar Control Film

Reflective solar control films reject the most total solar energy, and they give glass a mirrored appearance from outside in daylight. Many Houston office buildings already have a reflective look, so matching film to the existing exterior can be straightforward. Inside, reflective films lower daylight and can show reflections at night.

Spectrally selective films reject much of the infrared while keeping visible light higher, so interiors stay bright and the glass looks less tinted. They suit buildings where the owner or architect wants to keep the original exterior look, and offices that rely on daylight. We bring samples of both so the owner and tenants can compare on the actual glass.