In an age of environmental consciousness, green building in the hospitality sector has increased by 50 percent from 2011 to 2013 and now represents 25 percent of all new construction today.* Why not 100 percent? The one thing that may be holding the hospitality sector back is the price of green building materials, which can often cost at least 5 percent more than regular materials.
While the increase in demand for green lodging renovations offers opportunity, it can also be a challenge from an environmentally conscious standpoint. But believe it or not, when it comes to windows, there is another option.
New Windows vs. Window Film
Often when renovations are being done, replacing older, single paned windows with more energy efficient double or triple pane windows is a consideration. However, the disposal of older removed windows and framing may be expensive. Not to mention that the monetary investment required to install new windows can add up quickly including: the cost of new energy-efficient windows, additional charges for custom windows, the cost of new window fitting and frames, payment for window removal, and more.
A cost-effective way to avoid the headache and environmental issues of new windows is the professional installation of window film.
Having window film professionally installed delivers seven times the energy savings benefits per dollar spent compared with full window replacement. As long as the window is structurally sound, adding window film is a great choice. Moreover, the installation cost savings are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the benefits of window film.
Additional Window Film Installation Benefits
Professionally installed window films offer a variety of benefits depending on the type of film that is installed. Here are some examples:
Utility Bill Savings: Just like windows, window film products are rated by the National Fenestration Rating Council for energy savings. By reducing solar heat gain in the summer and retaining a building’s heat in the winter, once installed, window film may offer year-round savings of about 5 to 10 percent of the hotel’s total energy bill.
UV Protection: Untreated windows may only block about 25 percent of UV rays from entering a building. In contrast, a professional installation of window film can help block up to 99 percent of these rays. Without window film protection, the interior furnishings of your guestrooms are experiencing avoidable fading and damage. The UV rays penetrating untreated windows are also likely to impact your guests—contributing to cumulative skin damage. In other words, anyone or anything near an untreated window may be at risk if your hotel windows are not treated with professionally installed window film.
General Safety Benefits: Windows break—causing injury, causing damage, and allowing for uninvited intruders. Whether it’s rough play, or a tree branch through a window—upon strong impact, regular glass breaks and shatters. An installation of safety and security window film can help offer continued protection for hotel guests by mitigating damage from flying glass fragments when glass breaks. These window films help hold fragmented pieces together preventing shards from traveling either inside or outside the building. Because safety and security films may hold glass fragments together in the window frame, they may also act as a deterrent by slowing down would-be burglars hoping to gain quick access through windows.
An Affordable, Hotel Improvement You Didn’t Know You Needed
There aren’t often “Go Green” improvements for hotels that offer both an affordable energy efficient upgrade and protection to your guests and interiors. Whether your hotel is located on the snowy slopes of Colorado, or the beautiful sand beaches of Florida, professionally installed window film has many benefits to offer. With a relatively quick installation process, you and your guests can begin enjoying a window film protected lodging environment with little to no downtime.
*Study by McGraw Hill Construction
See also these tips on the role custom roman shades can play in covering up windows.
About the Author
Darrell Smith is the Executive Director of the International Window Film Association (IWFA). With over 40 years experience in marketing, sales and distribution and the last 30 years in the window film industry, he has served as organizational and planning consultant with trade associations, Internet related businesses, and investment firms. The IWFA is an industry body of window film dealers, distributors, and manufacturers that facilitates the growth of the window film industry though the use of education, research, advocacy and consumer awareness. To find an accredited window film installer near you, visit www.iwfa.com/BusinessLocator/FindanInstaller.
