Xenia Skylights: Heat Reduction with Natural Light Preservation

How Window Film Reduces Heat While Preserving Natural Light

Homeowners often seek ways to make their living spaces more comfortable, especially during Ohio's warmer months. Intense sunlight can significantly heat up a room, making it uncomfortable and increasing energy costs. Window film offers a solution by managing solar heat gain without sacrificing natural light. This guide explains how it works, using a recent installation in Xenia as an example.

Understanding Solar Heat and Light

The sun emits energy in several forms, including visible light and infrared (IR) radiation. Both contribute to the heat felt inside a building. When sunlight strikes a window, some energy is reflected, some is absorbed by the glass, and some passes through. The amount of heat and light that enters is determined by the properties of the window and any treatments applied to it.

Introducing Spectrally Selective Window Film

The Xenia project involved applying Avery Dennison SP E-Lite 70 film to two skylights. This type of film is known as "spectrally selective."

* **How it Works:** Spectrally selective films are engineered to allow most visible light—the light we see—to pass through while blocking a significant portion of the infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. IR radiation is the primary component of sunlight that generates heat. UV radiation, while less significant for heat, can cause fading of furnishings and damage to skin. * **Key Metrics:** * **Visible Light Transmission (VLT):** This measures how much visible light passes through the film. A higher VLT means more natural light enters the room. The SP E-Lite 70 film has a VLT of 70%, meaning it only reduces the amount of incoming light by 30%. * **Total Solar Energy Rejected (TSER):** This indicates the percentage of total solar energy (light and heat) that is blocked by the film. While not explicitly stated for this film, spectrally selective films aim to maximize TSER while maintaining a high VLT. * **Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC):** This measures how much solar heat is admitted through a window. A lower SHGC means less heat enters the room.

The Xenia Installation Example

The clients in Xenia wanted to reduce the intense heat coming through their skylights without darkening their living space. They chose Avery Dennison SP E-Lite 70 precisely for its ability to maintain clarity and natural light.

* **The Result:** By applying this specialized film, the skylights now block a substantial amount of the heat-generating IR rays while allowing 70% of visible light to enter. This significantly improves comfort by reducing the "harsh heat" the clients experienced, all while preserving the bright, natural ambiance they desired. The clear view to the sky remains largely unobstructed.

For homeowners in the Dayton area considering similar solutions, exploring options for [residential window tint](osexual-window-tint-dayton-ohio) can lead to a more comfortable and energy-efficient home environment year-round.

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[See the full project →](/projects/xenia-skylight-heat-reduction-with-avery-dennison-sp-e-lite-70-xenia-xenia)