by Ms. Meacham: Money Maven
Member since:
December 14, 2005

The Bottom Line: Window tinting to save money?

September 15, 2009 11:51 PM UTC (Updated: September 15, 2009 11:58 PM UTC)
views: 0 | 1 person recommends this | comments: 14

I have tinting on the back windows of my car, and love the anonymity from the back seat. But tinted windows inside a home? Who knew.

Turns out that Angie's List -- the members-only contractor's ranking site --  has a new section for window tinting companies that apply products said to reduce glare, reduce heat and reduce energy costs. There even are clear "tints" that do the trick.

Here's the clincher for me: Not only can it help keep my house cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, but I won't have to replace my historic, wood bungalow windows to do it! Turns out the government's Recovery Act stimulus energy tax credit applies to this stuff as well. 

If you're interested too, feel free to check out this article with more details: "Window tinting to save money?"

Comments: 14

Marsha C. Sep 16, 2009, 12:01am UTC
sounds like a winner to me
Jan S. Sep 16, 2009, 12:03am UTC
This sounds interesting and worth reading. We've found that keeping our blinds open in winter cuts the heat bill substantially. The free solar heat prevents the furnace from turning on so frequently.
sounds like a great plan to me
Mary S. Sep 16, 2009, 12:06am UTC
I have more of a problem losing heat from inside my house than of gaining too much. I assume tinting wouldn't help with that?
Ms. Meacham: Money Maven Sep 16, 2009, 12:19am UTC
Hmm, don't know Mary. We're both under this Portland sun. It seems like it would work both ways, after all the regular insulated vinyl windows work that way if I were to go for replacements. I'll certainly ask around!
Visionaerie B. Sep 16, 2009, 12:27am UTC
That is cool -- I once got some kind of tinted film samples to try on your windows. It would be neat if you could change the tinting according to the season, to keep you cool in summer and warm in winter. That's probably something you could do on a temporary basis or with some kind of shade. My preference would be to have an underground home where you could perhaps have a dome on top. This looks like a neat solution too -- thanks for sharing it!
Ms. Meacham: Money Maven Sep 16, 2009, 12:34am UTC
My research is turning up that the film works like insulation, both going in and going out. Thus, it keeps the home at a more even temperature year around, which ends up equating to cooler in the summer and hotter in the winter.

P.S. Love the underground home idea! I wouldn't mind have a roof garden on mine (not feasible with my current pitched roof however, though I would consider it with a garage remodel). It makes a lot of sense to replace as much earth as you displace in order to keep our earth sustained.
Patti M. Sep 16, 2009, 6:06am UTC
Thanks for the heads-up. No one is working right now but I'm bookmarking the article. We have almost 15' of glass facing West.
Angela M. Sep 16, 2009, 8:02am UTC
for those who like to do it on their own Lowes carries a full line of products. Ive been looking in to this over the summer but In stead of tinting I chose to go with thermal drapes that also reduce sound from the outside world and block sunlight to protect fabric on my furniture ad nosy neighbors. The curtains worked to drop my electric bill
Angela M. Sep 16, 2009, 8:04am UTC
OH and the stuff at lowers runs about 50 bucks per window it would have cost me 300 to do my windows in the living room but the drapes only cost 100 another reason I went with those
Heather M. Sep 16, 2009, 10:12am UTC
Yes, window tinting does save money. It's one of the things that I will probably be doing whenever I finally manage to buy a house (something I had hoped to have already pulled off by this point).
Ms. Meacham: Money Maven Nov 8, 2009, 2:52am UTC
Looks like the housing credit could be extended through May 1 Heather. So you may have just the time you need. Here's hoping for you!
Debra H. Sep 26, 2009, 6:06am UTC
Great idea Ms M thanks for the info
Ms. Meacham: Money Maven Nov 8, 2009, 2:49am UTC
My pleasure Debra.

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