Enjoy this winter with 3M™ Window Films

Winter is a beautiful time of year, but it also brings with it a whole host of challenges for homeowners. From below-zero temperatures to heavy snowfall and dull sunless days, winter weather can wreak havoc on your home’s energy efficiency and overall comfort level. But the good news is it doesn’t have to!

In today’s blog, we’ll explore several ways you can maximize comfort and your home’s energy costs this wintertide. 

13 ways to amplify comfort and energy efficiency this winter 

During the winter, most of us choose to spend our days retreating from the cold indoors where we can turn up the heat. But if we’re not careful this could lead to increased energy costs.

To help you stay warm and comfortable without breaking the bank, consider these tips:

Soften your lighting 

Good lighting is one of the most important elements in a space. It can create a more comfortable environment, improve one’s mood, and make a room appear bigger in size.

This winter, instead of using a single source of intense light, consider using multiple low-wattage fixtures to produce a softer light. Softer lights create a more relaxed feel, perfect for the dark winter months. For a similar effect, you can also install dimmers on your light switches. 

Light a fire 

Fireplaces are a wonderful addition to any home, especially in the winter. Both traditional and electric models add warmth and ambiance to an otherwise cold and dreary room.

Fireplaces can also help you save money on heating bills by using less energy than other heating sources. The fire itself absorbs heat from the surrounding air, which then radiates back into the room. This means that even if the fireplace isn’t in use, it will still be warmer than if there wasn’t one there at all.

Keep indoor temperatures cool 

During the cold winter months, it can be tempting to crank up your thermostat but it’s important not to overdo it. Not only is it costly but overheating your home can make you feel tired and dry out your space. On the contrary, keeping it too cool, could result in your pipes freezing.

A good rule of thumb is to have your thermostat set no lower than 65 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and no higher than 70 degrees at night, according to Energy Star’s heating and cooling guide.

Change furnace filters 

Did you know that a dirty furnace filter can reduce the amount of air that flows through your system, causing the furnace to work harder and use more energy? This can result in higher utility bills, as well as poor air quality inside your home.

To prevent this, it’s important that you replace your filters once every three months. However, if you live in an area with high humidity or lots of allergens, such as pollen or pet dander, you may want to change them more frequently (about once a month). 

Add a pop of colour

Adding a few pops of colour throughout your home can help brighten up your space and make it feel warmer. For instance, warm neutrals like beige and cream can make a space feel more comfortable and intimate while splashes of red, orange and yellow can add playfulness and energy.

Adding some colour to your home is not only great for increasing comfort but it’s also shown to have a positive effect on your mood. Over the years, countless studies have demonstrated the positive psychological and physical effects of colour in the home, from improving productivity to helping you sleep soundly at night.

If you’re hesitant to swap out the colour of your walls, you can also brighten up your space with an assortment of colourful rugs, throws and pillows.

Humidify your home 

Humidifiers are an excellent way to keep your home comfortable during the winter months. By adding moisture to the air, the device helps balance the humidity in your home, which in turn makes us feel warmer and prevents our furnace from working overtime.

Mitigate phantom power consumption 

When you turn off your TV, you might assume that it’s no longer using energy, but this is simply not the case. As long as the device is plugged into a power source, it will continue to draw energy, putting you at risk of increased energy costs. This type of energy consumption is known as phantom power or standby power and accounts for up to 10 percent of your electricity bill.

Fortunately, there are several ways you can reduce phantom power year-round, like unplugging any devices that you’re not using or plugging devices into a single power bar and switching it off when they’re not in use.

Spread warmth with an area rug 

A rug is more than just a household accessory. The functional décor piece can also trap heat and help insulate your floors. In fact, rugs store heat 10 to 12 percent better than hardwood floors.

However, this is dependent on the type of rug, its material, and its size. For optimal insulation, choose an area rug that is thick, dense, and full of micro air pockets. 

Reverse your ceiling fan 

Many of us rely on ceiling fans to keep us cool during the summer months, but did you know that they can also provide warmth in the winter? It may seem counterintuitive but reversing the direction of a ceiling fan can actually make your living space feel warmer.

By moving clockwise, the fan creates an updraft, which pulls cool air up toward the ceiling while forcing the warm air downwards. This helps distribute the warmth radiating from your central heating system and eliminate cold pockets.

Install a smart thermostat 

A smart thermostat is a device that connects to your home’s HVAC system and monitors temperatures in different areas of the house. It then uses this information to adjust your heating and cooling settings.

With a smart thermostat, you can control your heating and cooling remotely, set schedules and receive notifications if something goes wrong with your system.

They’re also environmentally friendly as they use less energy than traditional models. For example, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat has been shown to reduce energy consumption by 10 to 12 percent.

Take advantage of the sun 

When combined with other heating methods, the sun is a fantastic source of free heat. To make the most of this natural resource, ensure blinds or curtains on south-facing windows are open during the day. Doing so is a simple yet effective way to increase comfort in your home without having to worry about increased energy rates.

Natural sunlight also provides a myriad of benefits. Increased vitamin production, better eyesight, and improved heart health are just a few of the physical benefits you can expect to see when you increase natural sunlight in your home. Sunlight can also help you feel better mentally. It can improve focus, reduce stress, and increase memory. What’s more, getting 30 minutes of sunlight, especially first thing in the morning, can help alleviate stress and anxiety.

Draught-proof your house 

To keep your home warm and cozy this winter you’ll need to keep the heat in and the cold out. There are several ways you can do this. Here are some of the most common methods:

• First, check for air leaks: There may be several small gaps in your home that allow cold air to seep through and warm air to escape. To keep your home warm and prevent heat from escaping, it’s important to ensure these gaps are sealed with insulation or other materials. To find draughts be on the lookout for obvious gaps, whistling and movement in and around curtains.
• For cracks less than ¼ inch use caulk: Opt for a long-lasting caulk made for outdoor use.
• For cracks between ¼ inch and 3 inches use spray foam: A quick-action spray foam that comes with a straw works best.
• For doors use door sweeps or draft stoppers: Install door sweeps or draft stoppers on the bottom of exterior doors to prevent cold air from seeping in.
• Block chimney draughts: This is commonly done by fitting a cap over the chimney pot or buying a chimney draught excluder. 

Invest in Window Film

While the above tips may help, one of the most effective ways to keep your house warm, energy efficient, and comfortable is to install 3M™ Window Films. They are one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to improve energy efficiency and comfort.

What are the benefits of Window Film?

Contrary to popular belief, 3M™ Window Films are not just for the warmer months. They offer countless benefits to homes and businesses year-round! In fact, 3M’s Thinsulate™ Climate Control Window Film, specifically, acts as a barrier to help regulate the temperature in your home during the winter months.

What is 3M Thinsulate™ Climate Control Window Film? 

3M Thinsulate™ Climate Control Window Film is a bit different than our other 3M™ Window Films. While they still have properties that aim to reduce the amount of solar energy entering your space, they also have a low-emissivity (Low-E) coating that’s designed to help reflect radiant heat, rather than allow it to escape.

Here are some of the benefits of installing 3M Thinsulate™ Climate Control Window Film:

Energy Savings 

Did you know that 30 percent of all energy used to heat your home escapes through the windows? 3M Thinsulate™ Climate Control Window Film works to counteract this by reducing the amount of cool air that enters and warm air that escapes at a fraction of the cost of a window replacement. By helping to provide increased insulation, installing the film is much like upgrading a single pane to a double pane and a double pane to a triple pane window.

Ultimately, 3M™ Window Film is an investment to save energy and therefore to reduce your monthly energy costs. 

Fading of Furnishings & Flooring 

While window film cannot stop fading completely, 3M™ Window Films come pretty close. By directly addressing the three major contributors to fading – ultraviolet rays, visible sunlight, and solar heat - 3M Thinsulate™ Window Film reduces the fading of furniture, upholstery, and hardwood floors, keeping your home’s interior looking beautiful. 

UV Ray Protection

Ultraviolet or UV light rays are part of the natural energy produced by the sun, and although they are undetectable to the human eye, they present several health risks.

Research indicates that ultraviolet radiation from the sun is associated with over 90 percent of all skin cancers. In addition to skin cancer, other studies have demonstrated that UV rays can cause DNA damage, impair wound healing, as well as contribute to visible signs of aging.

There are two types of UV light that are proven to contribute to the above health risks: ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) 

Luckily, there are ways to protect yourself without omitting natural light. 3M™ Window Films block and filter up to 99 percent of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. By creating a barrier between you and the sun, the film ensures that you and your family receive essential UV ray protection. 

Increased Comfort 

Thinsulate Low-E window film helps keep the weather out and comfort in without costly window replacements.

By enhancing insulation performance on existing single-pane windows, the clear window film keeps your home warmer in the winter and more energy efficient year-round without altering its aesthetics. 

Enjoy your view 

Blinds and drapes may be good insulators for windows, but at what cost?

Relying on blinds and curtains to save energy and keep heat from escaping often comes at the expense of your view. 3M™ Window Film, on the other hand, provides superior insulation for your windows without ridding you of your beloved view. 

Keep your home warm, energy efficient and comfortable with the most reliable window film 

Since 1966, 3M has patented many film technologies and remains the only window film manufacturer to produce its own polyesters and adhesives. In fact, due to the company’s ability to develop multiple-layer micro-thin polyester films, 3M films are able to outperform all others of similar thickness.

As an authorized 3M Window Film dealer for over 45 years, Convenience Group is proud to offer the most innovative window films for both commercial and residential applications across Canada.

If you’re interested in learning more about our 3M™ Thinsulate Climate Control Window Films or would like assistance finding something that works for your home or commercial space, contact Convenience Group today! Call our office at 416-233-6900, fill out the following form, or arrange a tour of our showroom to get started.