www.SunProtectionLLC.com
Situation:The Marriott in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has always
operated with the comfort of its guests as a priority.
One aspect of guestroom comfort that the hotel’s managers
couldn’t fully control, however, was the blazing summer sun
streaming into the building’s windows. Even operating at full
capacity, the building’s HVAC systems could sometimes only
cool the sunniest rooms down to 78°F, and more than a few
guests indicated this was too warm.
Solution:
The building’s owners contacted
Sun Protection, the local
Vista™ window film dealer, in the hopes of controlling the
sun. Enerlogic®35 window insulating film proved to be the
best solution. Its Low-E capabilities help keep solar heat
from entering rooms in hot weather and help prevent radiant
warmth from escaping during cold weather. The net result
is more constant interior temperatures plus energy savings,
UV protection, and reduced glare—all without a dark, tinted
appearance.
The film’s quick installation time made it easy for crews toservice rooms between check-out and check-in. As a result,
nearly 800 windows were covered in about 10 days without
disruptions to bookings.
Results:
Kevin Grass, a LEED AP and principal in the investment group that
owns the property, affirms that “the comfort level of our guests
has improved. We were getting a lot of complaints from guests
about being too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.
With the EnerLogic film installed, those complaints are now gone.”
From an HVAC standpoint, their same mechanical systems can now
achieve an interior cooling temperature of 72°F, even in rooms
that were once the hottest.
According to Grass, management’s primary goal
was to enhance guestroom comfort; however,
they’ve also enjoyed the additional benefit
of energy savings. Annual heating and
cooling costs are expected to drop 5%,
with corresponding savings in excess
of $24,000. Projected payback for the
project: just over three years.
Ultimately, the hotel’s owners discovered EnerLogic film to be
an excellent alternative to
replacement windows, providing
a comparable enhancement
in performance, but with cleaner
installation and more rapid payback.
Typically about one-third of a building’s annual heating and cooling costs are directly related to window performance.
In the past, improving year-round window performance meant committing to costly window replacement. But now Solutia
has developed EnerLogic, a series of window films that provide the most advanced glass insulation technology on the market.
Not only does EnerLogic window film help keep heat out during the summer (just like conventional window film), it is the only window film that helps
keep radiant heat inside during the winter.
As the first all-climate, all-season window film on the market, EnerLogic window film actually improves a window’s year-round insulating performance
up to 92% versus 44% for conventional window film. This difference typically provides up to three times more overall annual heating and cooling savings
than other films. To create such impressive savings, EnerLogic film uses a patent-pending low emissivity (low-e) coating. This coating consists of a microthin metal
or metallic oxide layer that redirects solar and radiant energy back to their source to substantially reduce harmful UV rays, as well as uncomfortable heat and glare.
The newest member of the EnerLogic family, EnerLogic70, actually uses a layer of gold for its excellent corrosion resistance and ability to reflect heat and radiation.
While replacing windows is still a viable option for cutting energy costs, consider that installing EnerLogic film typically costs about one-third the cost of window replacement.
The film is easy to install on the interior surface of windows, and requires little, if any, disruption of daily life within the building. By utilizing existing windows, window film avoids
the need to send old windows to the landfills. Best of all, EnerLogic film often pays for itself in savings in less than three years – compared to the 15 – 20 year payback often
associated with replacement windows. And because EnerLogic film often qualifies for utility company rebates, a return on investment may come even quicker. With annual savings
of up to 40% on heating and cooling costs, EnerLogic window film offers a crystal clear solution for energy efficiency.
Whether a commercial office building, school, health care facility, retail space or residence, EnerLogic window film can improve the comfort and energy efficiency of almost
any building. Historic sites have even benefited from EnerLogic film’s ability to adhere to the irregular surface of antique window panes. EnerLogic film also helps protect the
investment made on interior furnishings by blocking up to 99% of the harmful UV rays that can cause fading. Even with all this protection against solar heat, EnerLogic70 allows
building interiors to remain bright and vibrant with its visible light transmission (VLT) of up to 70%. (VLT indicates how much sunlight window film allows in while continuing to
block solar heat; EnerLogic 70’s high VLT makes the film virtually invisible.)
Enerlogic window film is already achieving real-world results. “As a project manager of a new SILVER LEED building that had serious heat and glare issues on the Northwest side,
we were challenged to find the right solution to assist with these issues” says Robert Newton, Project Manager at NovusINT. “After much research on the available options, we chose
EnerLogic window film as the solution. Not only has it reduced the glare (resulting in a more comfortable and productive environment for the employees), but it also has reduced the
load on the heating and cooling units which in turn has saved us money. Based on our annualized savings, it will be cost-neutral in about 3 years. Solutia has been great to work with in
ensuring that the product is of the highest quality and that our satisfaction is guaranteed. Not only do we have a SILVER LEED certified building, we have one that the employees are comfortable
in all seasons!”
Window Tinting and Energy Savings 