Windows are the weakest part of the building envelope and account for heat gain within a building in the summer and heat loss in the winter. Heat gain increases cooling costs and heat loss increases heating costs.

A single pane clear window is 20 times less energy efficient than the wall area they replace; and double pane Low-E windows are 10 times less energy efficient than the wall area they replace. This means that on average a building can lose more than 30% of its heat or air conditioning energy through its windows.

While the amount of heat loss or heat gain through windows depends on whether the windows are single pane glass, clear double pane, Low-Emission coated, or gas filled, the fact is if you have windows you have heat gain and or heat loss every day of every year.

Windows lose and gain heat through a combination of four factors:

CONDUCTION - The direct transfer of heat through the materials of the window.

RADIATION - Infrared energy transmitted through the glass.

CONVECTION - Air gives up its heat to the cooler glass and sinks towards the floor. This sets up air currents that draws warmer air to the glass that is in turn cooled causing a draft.

AIR LEAKAGE - The passage of heated air through cracks and gaps in the window fitting.

In'Flector Solar Shades address all of the problems caused by windows in building heat loss and gain. In'Flector gives control over reflectivity, emissivity, absorption, radiant heat gain, solar heat gain, privacy, infiltration, condensation and heat loss in the winter. They also act as a passive solar collector, absorbing sunlight and radiating free heat into the building.

This is by far In'Flector Solar Shades most powerful weapon. The sun gives off electromagnetic waves, and some of this energy we see as light or feel as warmth. These waves are travelling at 300,000 Km/second and plain window glass is 90%* transparent to them. If you place a reflective surface in the path of these rays, you can change their direction by reflection.  Compared with a conventional blind or curtain, In'Flector Solar Shade outperforms due to its highly reflective properties and distinctively one-of-a-kind angular perforation. The majority of the sun’s rays and heat are reflected back out of the window before they are converted into heat energy.

A still air space can be a very effective method of insulation. In'Flector Solar Shades creates a still air space between your room and the glass. This still air space, although not as effective as some bulk insulations, such as one of the foams, makes a significant contribution to the insulation of your room from the heat outside.

In the hot summer time, In'Flector Solar Blinds work to keep cool, partially by creating a still air barrier, and partly by preventing the cool air circulating in your room from making contact with the hot glass, while still retaining your view.

Based on same principles, in the cold days of winter time, In'Flector works to keep warmth. Moreover, In'Flector Solar Blinds in their winter mode become a passive solar collector. For example a 4’x4’ window in direct sunlight creates 2096 BTU’s* an hour while still acting as a window insulator that stops the hot to cold air exchange.

Using In'Flector is like wearing sunglass. Use it only when needed. Use it when the sun is strong. Put it away in cloudy days or when you want enjoy the sunlight in winter. Moreover, by using smart home control device, you can set timer or sensor to control the open and close of In'flector.

On the other hand, window film does not have this flexibility. Window film is not possible to adapt to all weather changes. No matter whether you choose reflective type, clear view type, light color or dark color, you should understand that none of them cannot be good for all weathers and seasons.

Final words. You may be interested to know that reflective window film will make your window look like a mirror and so block window view at night. However, non-reflective window film is not effective to deal with the torching sunlight in Hong Kong summers.