The Sky's the Limit on Saving Energy
GVEC Continues Solar Screen Rebate in 2010
Jan 1st
GVEC has extended its Energy Rebate Program for Solar Screens. The current program will end in March, 2010, but will be extended through out 2010. GVEC will rebate $0.50 per square foot of solar screen installed. This amounts to a huge discount! StarShade is an authorized GVEC contractor.
Solar Screens
Jan 1st
Solar sun screens are made of durable, vinyl-coated fiberglass yarn woven in an open pattern to block up to70 percent of the sun’s heat coming through windows, while appearing virtually invisible from the inside. Unlike interior window treatments like drapes and blinds that block the sun’s heat after it has entered the home, solar screens absorb and dissipate the sun’s heat and glare before it even reaches the window.
As shown here (click on picture for exploded view) , the majority of sunlight striking an unprotected glass window passes right through into the home, and a small percentage is reflected. Applying solar screens dramatically reduces the amount of sunlight striking the window — most of the sun’s heat is either absorbed by the screen, reflected by it, or carried away by convective air currents created by the warm screen.
Solar screens are easily installed on the outside of almost any window, sometimes using the frames of existing insect screens. Unlike some other window treatments, solar screens work whether the windows are open or closed and can be removed in winter to let the sun shine in. If kept in place during the winter, the screen’s fabric has the advantage of reducing wind chill across the window’s surface, thereby reducing heat loss. Additional benefits include reduced fading of carpets, fabrics and other materials and insect protection when the windows are open.
Also, since solar screens do not come in contact with the glass, they avoid the potential of cracking, bubbles or streaking that may occur with some sun control products applied directly to the window. Solar screens can also be installed as shades inside the home, but once inside, they have lost the majority of their advantage — screening the sun before it enters the home.
Solar screens come in a variety of designer colors including black, bronze, gold, gray, brown and light colors like white, cream and sand, making them an attractive enhancement to a home. The same solar screen materials used to reduce heat gain through the home’s windows and doors can also be used to protect outdoor living areas.
Conserving Energy using an Exhaust Fan
Dec 18th
Roller shades, solar shades and window film stop heat from entering your home through your windows, but how do you stop heat entering from other sources? The greatest offender may be your garage. Metal doors exposed to the sun act as hot plates to warm up that garage to incredible temperatures. Garages have notorious poor ventilation. What happens to all that heat? If you have a bedroom over the garage you know. Rooms nested atop garages are usually the most uncomfortable in the home. Once heated, they are very difficult to cool. One of the least expensive ways to remedy this problem is to install an exhaust fan.
Exhaust fans usually have a temperature control that activate them when the room/garage reaches a certain temperature. It is important that vents are installed to provide sufficient air flow. Any major hardware store will carry exhaust fans in a variety of sizes. Talking to a sales person about your particular problems will allow them to recommend the proper sized model to meet your needs. If you are like me, as handy as a pocket on an iron lung, you may want to take advantage of store recommended installers that can do the job cheaply, quickly and properly.
Determining where you want to vent all of that hot air would best be discussed with the installer, once your situation has been examined. You don’t want to add to your problem by incorrectly venting to an area that has no way to dissipate the heat. Exhaust fans use very little electricity and make a significant difference in cooling your garage.
TEXTILENE® Solar Screen Fabric from Twitchell Corporation
Dec 17th
TEXTILENE® brand solar screen is manufactured by the Twtichell Corporation. It is a durable and tough synthetic fabric made of PVC coated polyester. It is designed to reduce heat transfer through windows. This fabric reduces the glare and harmful rays from the sun. Solar screen fabric reduces energy costs and provides protection to your indoor furnishings. TEXTILENE® is flame and fade resistant. Solar Screen is a durable alternative for insect screen. Excellent for daytime privacy without blocking the view, this versatile fabric endures years of outdoor use. TEXTILENE® 90 solar screen blocks up to 90% of the sun’s rays and TEXTILENE® 80 blocks 80%. TEXTILENE® has many other uses: outdoor patio furniture, exterior and interior roller shades and solar screens
Benefits of Solar Screens
Nov 22nd
- Stops the sun’s heat from touching your windows.
- Prevents harmful UV rays from entering your home.
- Prevents fading of blinds, drapes, furniture, carpet, photographs and art work.
- Adds to the life of your air conditioning system
- Cools your home naturally.
- Lowers electric bills
- Conserves energy
Installing Solar Screens
Nov 22nd
We do it Right!
Most solar screen salesmen drill through the solar screen frame and into the window frame. When a StarShade solar screen is installed, no harm is done to void your window warranty. Metal clips, that match the screen frame color, are used to affix the screen. Because we use a heavier 7/16 X 1″ frame, we are able to make larger, more durable solar screens. The screens are made over sized to fit over the window. Then the clips are screwed into the outside wood trim. No harm is done to your window and the integrity of the screen is maintained.
Some windows have a small u-shaped space above the window. This is called a screen channel. This type of window needs a friction-fit screen. Steel springs are mounted on the top of the solar screen and are pushed up into the screen channel. The bottom of the screen is then lifted just above the bottom retainer and released. This gives a good tight fight without the necessity of using screws to secure the screen. In most cases, the screen channel is too thin to fit a standard sized frame. In this case we use a 5/16 X 1″ frame.
A legacy frame is one other type of window that we see in about 5% of the solar screen installations we do. A legacy frame is found on vinyl windows. The outside frames is inset and raised. There is no way to cover this window with a traditional flat framed screen without destroying the window. That is why we also make a
“stand-off” frame. Essentially it is a box frame with solar screen fabric that fits over the entire window. It is an even heavier frame that our 7/16″ X 1″ flat frame. It is mounted with clips, just like our flat frame, but they are longer. On older homes, a stand-off frame rejuvenates the appearance of the window as if it were brand new.
Welcome to Sunny’s Blog
Nov 21st
David Hunt
I have completely redesigned my blog. I lost all of my previous articles, so I have started over and will publish articles to help you conserve energy and save money. Suggestions for any topic pertaining to saving energy is greatly appreciated. Please take a moment to leave a comment here with your name and home town. Your questions and comments are most welcome. Currently we are serving the San Antonio and Houston Metro areas.