Do solar screens actually save money? How effective are they? Will energy bills reduce with solar screens?

In this post, I, Josh Hobbs, will help you understand how solar screens are the best way to keep your home cooler, which will save you on electrical and cooling costs.

I will also discuss whether solar screens are beneficial in the winter, highlight their other advantages, explain how external sun screens work, assess their energy efficiency, and consider if they can be used on commercial buildings and multi-family residences.

Do solar window screens really help to save money?

Solar screens are designed to provide shade, making them highly effective at reducing heat from the sun's rays. When considering their effectiveness, the key factor is how well they shade your windows. Sunlight heats up glass, which in turn radiates heat into your home. By using solar screens, you can prevent this heat transfer.

In simple terms, outdoor solar sun shades are external shading devices that protect your windows from the sun's rays. They are extremely effective in keeping your home cooler.

I’ve also created an informative video that explains the benefits of using solar screens to shade your home’s windows. This video explains how solar screens work.

Watching this will provide the answer to "do solar screens save money".

This video explains how solar screens work.

An excellent way to learn from others who have my solar screens and see if they reduced their utility expenses is by reading some of the 300+ reviews posted on my website.

Do solar screens only provide shade, or do they offer additional benefits?

Here, I attempt to outline other benefits. Although this list is comprehensive, it does not fully encompass all additional benefits. To best understand all things solar screens, please visit my solar screen Q&A page. This Q&A page of mine is one that I built over 19 years of being in this business. I have developed this page over 19 years in the industry, and it covers every possible question and answer related to solar screens.

Are solar window screens beneficial in the Winter?

Our locally installed Austin TX solar screens are not designed to serve as insulating devices. They do not function for that purpose, and they will not effectively retain warmth in your home during the winter. If you come across a website claiming that solar window screens during Winter months can help keep heat inside, that information is incorrect.

I don't recommend removing your solar screens during winter.

Winter is brief, and frankly, in Austin, Texas, you won't experience the solar heat gain that occurs in northern regions. When it's truly cold here, it's usually dark and gloomy. We don't have cold days with bright sunshine.

Do external window shading screens provide privacy? Can they replace the need for blinds?

Another benefit of outdoor solar shades for windows is that you get privacy. Privacy from solar window screens is a huge deal. Our shade screens keep people from being able to see inside the home during the day.

This picture was taken at dusk, although it may appear as if it was taken during the day. During the daytime, the exterior sun blocking shades prevent visibility into the home. However, at night, if it is dark outside and the interior lights are on, you can see inside.

This image demonstrates that contrast.

If you're interested in viewing photos of solar screen installations captured during the day, my website offers hundreds of them, all sorted by fabric color.

Do window sun shades reduce noise levels?

One customer mentioned that he felt the window sunshades helped keep his space quieter. While I understand his perspective, I don't find any validity in that statement. I believe he genuinely feels this way, but I don't see how the window sun shades could actually reduce noise levels. In my opinion, window sun-shades do not help mitigate outdoor noise.

Can window shade screens stop birds from colliding with my windows?

Yes, they will. Window shade screens, in particular, eliminate the reflections that birds see from uncovered windows. It is this reflection that can confuse birds, making them think they are flying into an open space. By using external shade screens for your windows, you reduce these reflections.

Will sun screens prevent golf balls from breaking my glass?

They will function only if installed at a minimum distance of 5 inches from the glass. The sun screens are durable enough to deflect golf balls, functioning similarly to trampolines. The ball will rebound off the fabric, but the fabric will initially yield slightly, similar to a trampoline.

If your window is bordered by stone or brick, you can simply build a wooden frame using 1×6 boards around the window and then mount the sun screen onto that frame.

Otherwise, you'll need to create spacers. For example, you could use a thin metal tube with very long screws to secure it into the window frame. The tube would serve as the spacer. I do not offer this service. I recommend finding a handyman on Craigslist and then purchase the screens from my sunscreen store for him to install.

Can solar protection screens stop my new artificial turf from burning?

Yes, they definitely will. The solar protection screen is installed on the exterior of the window, effectively preventing the sun's reflection on your glass.

The sun's reflection from your glass is what causes damage to artificial turf. My solar protection screens will stop the sun from reflecting off the glass and damaging the turf.

I have a great article "How to stop artificial grass from getting burned and melted" on this same site.

Can solar window screens prevent bugs from entering? Do they serve as a substitute for insect window screens?

Yes, solar window screens replace the need for basic insect screens for windows. We will actually remove and haul off your old insect screens for you. If you as well need a replacement sliding insect screen door, I can install one of those for you as well.

Are solar screens the same as solar shades

Names can get confusing. Solar shades are generally referred to as patio solar shades.

We also have things like commercial window roller shades, which are also called interior solar shades.

Solar screens are designed for the exterior of windows and remain fixed in place, unlike solar shades, which can be rolled up and down. While it's possible to install a roll-up solar shade over a window, that's not feasible for my situation. In Texas, if you aim to shade your windows, it's best to use solar window screens from the outside.