We recently purchased a home and would like to know which item will keep our home cooler and reduce our bill – solar screens or tinted windows?
It depends on which screen and which tint you are comparing. The critical factor is how effective they are. The effectiveness is measured by either the Shading Coefficient (SC) or the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). In both cases the lower the number, the less heat is allowed to transfer through the window. Generally speaking, shade screens have a SC of about 0.35 and most tints have a SC of between 0.5 and 0.75. So, in general, shade screens are better than most tints, but there are exceptions. Check the SC or SHGC to be sure. One caution: The better job it does at keeping the heat (and light) out, the darker the window. At some point the window gets so dark you can’t see out. It is best to check out each product before installing it. The exception may be Low E window films as they are designed to keep the heat out while letting more light through.
