Energy Savings At an elevation of more than
8,000 feet sits a majestic mansion that seamlessly renders
the divide between the built and the natural worlds.
Oversized glass windows, (which in this home become glass
walls) dramatize the relationship between the house and its
spectacular mountain surroundings.
At such a high altitude, the sun’s glare, in tandem with
destructive ultraviolet light, became an environmental
impediment to the point that the interior living areas were
decidedly uncomfortable.
This was a particular challenge for the interior designer
since the home abounds in valuable art, costly furnishings
and an expanse of custom wide-board pine flooring, all of
which are particularly sensitive to UV light. UV light is
that part of sunshine_solar energy_that you cannot see or
feel but which is a primary cause of the fading of
furnishings, art, carpets, artifacts and wood floors. (UV
light is, of course, also harmful to human skin.)
Working with a local window film professional, the
designer elected to install VISTA Ambiance VE 35 SR CDF, a
Low E Solar Control Film to tame the UV ravages and combat
glare. The hi-tech invisible film prevents 99.9% of all UV
light from passing through the glass windows and reduces
glare by 64%, thus providing visually comfortable
surroundings and a high degree of fade protection. The film
will also reduce energy bills by enabling the windows to
reflect interior heat back into the house rather than
absorbing it in the glass. As a general rule, half of home
energy bills are the result of heat loss or gain through
glass.
In commenting on the film’s installation, the designer
said, "Glare free views can be enjoyed throughout the year
and the fading of the furnishings, precious art and
expansive wood floors are no longer a matter of concern.
What’s more, the owners are quite oblivious to the presence
of the film. They simply don’t know it’s there!"
