The summer months in San Diego are hot, especially in the inland and valley areas of our community. Aggressive estimates claim that up to 40 percent of a home’s heat is the result of sunlit window space and around 50 percent of a household utility cost be can be attributed to fighting this source of heat. Air conditioners work overtime to cool our San Diego homes while heat seeps into our window spaces, but there is a relatively inexpensive solution: solar window screens.
Solar window screen panels are an economical way to reduce heat and glare cause by the sun on your windows. These solar screen panels have a couple different options based on shading levels (70-90%), come in a variety of different colors, and are removable in the winter months when you prefer more sunlight to enter your windows to help heat the home. Solar window screens also help preserve the color of your curtains and household carpeting, as they block many of the harmful UV rays, which cause fading.
What about decreased visibility? There is a slight tradeoff with the thicker weave solar screens, but most retailers suggest a darker colored screen to improve visibility, since lighter colored San Diego solar screens tend to “catch the eye,” while the darker colored screens allow you to better see what’s beyond the screen.
While most big retail chains offer solar screen DIY kits, many San Diego residents will find the most value in getting a quote from their local San Diego window screen installers. Solar screen materials, by nature are thicker and heavier than standard screen materials, so the custom-built frames fabricated by a professional should fit better and last longer.
If you are interested in solar window screen options, there are several local San Diego companies who provide them. Screenmobile of San Diego and Sun Control Products of San Diego, are both a great place to start saving money on your energy bills this summer.