Best Windows Sun Screen Material

1. What will Sun Screens do for you? In the Phoenix Metroplex, both SRP and APS have recognized that windows are the number one source of heat gain in the summer and responsible for as much as 48% of the cooling costs of your home. The most effective way of preventing this heat gain is by shading the sun before it heats the glass. Interior blinds, drapes and window film (tint) all block the sun after the heat has penetrated and heated the window glass, so the heat radiates into the home. Exterior sun screens can block up to 90% of the sun’s energy before it heats your windows, dramatically reducing the heat in your home and the load on your air conditioner.
Other benefits of solar screens include:
• Gives the home a custom look for curb appeal
• Increases daytime privacy with good outward visibility
• Protects your furniture, carpet and blinds from fading and UV damage
• Reduces glare on televisions and computer monitors

2. What terms pertaining to Heat Gain do you need to know? There are several technical terms that may be referred to by sales personnel and they assume everyone knows what they mean. The most commonly used are:
• Reflection – this indicates how much of the sun’s energy is “reflected” away from the window glass. It is usually expressed as a percentage of the total sun’s energy.
• Absorption – this indicates how much of the sun’s energy is “absorbed” and held by the product. It, too, is usually expressed as a percentage of the total sun’s energy.
• Transmission – this indicates how much of the sun’s energy is actually “transmitted” through the product to the window glass or into the home. It, also, is usually expressed as a percentage of the total sun’s energy.

3. What is Solar Heat Gain? Solar Heat Gain refers to the increase in temperature in a structure that results from solar radiation. The amount of solar gain increases with the strength of the sun, and decreases with the ability of any intervening material to resist the radiation.
The image below demonstrates only one (1) intervening material – glass. When you add solar screens (sun screens), you now have 2 levels of resistance. First, there is a Solar Screen that reflects, absorbs and then transmits to the window glass. Next, there is the window glass that takes what is transmitted through the Solar Screen and reflects, absorbs and then transmits into the home.
Both are intervening materials that reduce the Solar Heat Gain of the home. Both reflect and absorb some solar heat and then transmits the remainder further toward or into the home.

Solar Screen material that compares the technical difference between its 80% and 90% materials. An excerpt from that data is presented below:
This comparison shows the results of the sun’s rays striking the Solar Screen material at various angles.

The “Transmittance” percentage is the key. That is the amount of the sun’s energy that gets to the window glass, where the glass also reflects and absorbs, and allows an even lesser degree of the energy to enter the home.
Accent Screens has used Textilene© screen material almost exclusively since the beginning of our business in 2004.

5. Besides technical aspects, what other differences can you expect between 80% and 90%?Both the 80% and 90% screens are made with the same basic material, a woven PVC coated polyester yarn. The 90% is just a tighter weave. Some differences between the two include:

• Air Flow – With the tighter weave, the 90% screen restricts the air flow through the screen significantly.

• Visibility – The tighter weave reduces the visibility through the screen, inside looking out slightly but outside looking in significantly. If privacy is a primary concern, give strong consideration to the 90%.

• Natural Light – With both types of screens, you can open your blinds or drapery and let the natural light in without it bringing the heat with it. The 90% restricts the amount of natural light entering the home and makes looking out seem like a cloudy day every day.