STATINT One Way Mirror Window Privacy Film - Reflective Tinting Film for Heat & UV Blocking - Blue-Silver (35.4" x 32.8') - Home, Office Glass Door & Window Covering for Sun Protection & Daytime Privacy

To reduce expenses and to help protect the environment, in early 2021 our household started taking a number of measures to cut our energy consumption. Those measures have proven successful: total 2021 electricity consumption in our single-family, detached home in the US SE was about 8,000 kWh (3,200 of which was for AC), compared to about 11,000 kWh annual average in previous years. [UPDATE on 1/1/23: our total electricity consumption in 2022 dropped even further to just 5,500 kWh (1,600 of which was for HVAC) for the year. We have HALVED our electricity consumption. Huge savings. This window film continues to hold up beautifully despite exceptional temperature variations this past year; it has withstood a harsh stress test.]Applying this Statint window film has been part of our strategy. We tested the idea by applying the film only on our bathroom windows (actually, on the storm windows) several months ago. We are pleased, so much so that we have just reordered the film to apply it to other windows, placing priority on those windows that a) receive considerable direct sunshine here in the hot SE of the USA or b) can be looked into by neighbors or from the street.We have found that this window film safeguards our privacy nicely when the light outside is brighter than the light inside. If we want privacy when it’s dark out, we just close the curtains. We have also discovered that the film significantly reduces the amount of bright light shining through the windows, giving the rooms a softer, more cool-colored feeling. Some members of our household, keen to maintain as much natural light as possible, have vetoed the idea of having the film applied on the windows of their rooms.Another benefit of the film is that it can protect against the shattering of the glass in the event of, for example, a ball flying into it, a thief trying to break through it and get in, an extreme weather event … or a war – I saw on TV the other day a man applying film to his windows in the Ukraine.When it comes to applying this film, here are some lessons I learned:a) Be patient; take your time; think quality over quantity. There are some jobs around the house that can be done well with a mindset of speed and high energy; this isn’t one of them. To do this job well, a mindset of calm and of quality of work is called for. Approach this task when you have a good chunk of unhurried time available, then put on some music you enjoy and settle calmly into a useful task.b) Trial and (frustrating) error taught me to cut the film BEFORE applying it. I learned to carefully measure the windows, then cut the film with 1/8” to spare on all sides. This made it much easier to apply the film. True, we now have 1/8” of untinted window all the way around, but that’s barely noticeable, and the cut lines are clean. With this method, I don’t risk scratching the glass of the storm windows or cutting into their rubber edging. It’s also far less unwieldy. By cutting in advance, application becomes a very manageable one-person job.c) When preparing to cut the film, completely clear and clean the biggest table you have in your house. Do your cutting there. A carpenter square comes in handy when drawing lines for cutting: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086R74VLKd) Use a felt-edge squeegee to get bubbles out, and press only as hard as is necessary; otherwise, you might end up with scratches. I recommend the TECKWRAP Plastic Felt Edge Squeegee: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ALLUTD0Here are some other products we purchased at Amazon that we can recommend to those interested in cutting home energy consumption:RYB HOME Room Darkening Patio Door Curtain, Hanging Room Divider Screen Insulated Drapes Privacy Wall Panel: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D32DJ2V , as well as RYB HOME Blackout Curtains & Drapes - Total Privacy Thermal Efficiency Backdrop Curtains for Bedroom Room Divider Vertical Blind Living Room Patio Sliding Glass Door: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077SZRBNJGrandekor Blackout Window Blinds and Shades Cordless Cellular Shades: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NWBGVL3Kuman KW47-US Electricity Usage Monitor Plug Power Watt Voltage Amps Meter with Digital LCD www.amazon.com/Electricity-Monitor-Voltage-Overload-Protection/dp/B07DPJ3RGB Looking back, we can say that purchasing the Kuman Electricity Usage Monitor Plug has been one of our wisest and most useful moves, and a very inexpensive one at that.Klein Tools TI250 Rechargeable Thermal Imager: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089QW8R9S This tool, along with the Usage Monitor Plug, gave us a very good picture of where we were wasting energy. It was thanks to this tool that we realized, for example, that our then uninsulated recessed lights were really problematic, prompting us to purchase the following.FF130E Recessed Light Cover: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002XVPUAO If you have recessed lights and they’re not well insulated in the attic, energy wastage can be massive. These were easy to put in, sealed with Great Stuff: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KSANBTYAcuRite Wireless Indoor Outdoor Temperature and Humidity Sensor: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T0K8NXC We got two of these to go with our AcuRite weather station. They allow us to monitor temperature and humidity in four places at once: outside, in our living room, in our crawlspace, and in our unfinished attic. Thanks to these readings, we have established a smarter, more energy-efficient way of ventilating our crawlspace. They also helped us see that our attic needed additional ventilation in the roof, prompting us to purchase the following.4 SEASONS Solar Powered Polycarbonate Vent, Weatherproof Design, Quietly Cools Up to 500 Sq Ft, 400 CFM: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DMSCPJAAootek solar lights 120 LEDs with lights reflector, 270 degree Wide Angle, IP65 Waterproof, Security Lights for Front Door, Yard, Garage, Deck (4 pack): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NQ4L1SB , as well as Solar Lights Outdoor,WWimy 210 LED 2500LM Motion Sensor Lights with Remote Control, 3 Heads Security LED Flood Lights, IP65 Waterproof, 270° Wide Angle Illumination Wall Lights with 3 Modes (2 Packs): www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08T9F2MM1 Purchased in August 2021, these lights continue to work well here in the SE, saving us over 150 kWh/year. We shared some of these lights with relatives in the North; they also report that their lights are going strong after a rough winter.