Earning LEED credits using Panorama® and
Solar
Gard® window film
As you pursue LEED certification through the U.S. Green Building
Council (USGBC), you will be exploring many options to meet your goals.
Panorama window film is a proven energy saving product that can directly
help you achieve LEED Credits. Below are six categories within the
standard where solar control window film can be applied towards meeting
the criteria for earning LEED credits.
All buildings, new and existing, applying for LEED certification must
meet the EPA ENERGY STAR® rating of at least 60. Certification for minimum
energy performance requires that building electricity bills, cost, and
usage be provided before improvements are made and that for a given
building type and function, specific energy reduction goals must be met
according to the guidelines for the EPA ENERGY STAR® rating.
The energy saving benefits of window film can help companies to achieve
the initial rating of 60, and it also can provide additional LEED credits
once the baselines are met. Solar energy saving window film is covered by
the LEED for Existing Buildings Certification. Details can be found in the
USGBC LEED for Existing Buildings Reference Guide, version 2.0, available
through the
USGBC website.
How Window Film Earns LEED Credits
1. Energy Performance Credits
Buildings that exceed the EPA ENERGY STAR® rating of 60 required for
certification can receive up to 10 LEED credits through additional energy
efficiency improvements (LEED E&A Credit #1). The table below shows the
LEED points that can be earned for an existing building based on
additional energy efficiency improvements. Window film alone can provide
from one to four LEED points in energy efficiency improvements, depending
on the environment and the film installed.
2. Credit for Light Pollution Reduction
Light pollution reduction, also known as “Light Trespass”, is covered
by Credit #7 under the “Sustainable Sites” goal. “Light Trespassing”
occurs when lighting used within the building is visible at certain levels
in the surrounding external environment. To qualify for this LEED credit,
most of the internal light must fall within the building. Luminosity
measurements are taken outdoors, with all lights off, and again with all
the lights on. A LEED credit is achieved if the outdoor illumination level
does not increase more than 10% than levels with the “lights on.”
Installing solar control window film will result in a lower amount of
visible light transmission (VLT) through the windows. Window films have
varying degrees of visible light transmission, and films with lower VLT
ratings will greatly reduce light trespass from the building. When
choosing a film, you can consider the amount of likely light trespass in
advance and select specific films with a given target in mind. For
example, Stainless Steel 50 can cut light trespass from a window in half.
 3. Glare Reduction Credit
Under the Environmental Quality category (EQ #8.2), a credit can be
achieved for “providing for glare control features for all windows where
direct penetration of sunlight would interfere with normal occupant
activities”. This is a goal that works in conjunction with the light
pollution requirement in Sustainable Sites Credit 7 for “light trespass”.
This requirement can be met by applying window films with a VLT low enough
to meet occupant requirements for glare-free activity. For example,
Stainless Steel 50, which reduces light trespass, will have the added
benefit of glare reduction. Applying this film can eliminate unwanted
glare on computer screens and maintain an internal glare free environment,
allowing you to pursue both “light trespass and glare reduction” credits
in a single application.
5. Thermal Comfort
Improving and maintaining thermal comfort for one LEED Credit is an
option under section EQ 7.1 of the certification program. The performance
measurements are the same as those for the American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 55-2004.
ASHRAE 55-2004 is a thermal comfort standard that outlines requirements
for documenting a space as appropriately thermally comfortable for the
occupants. The credit can be met by demonstrating compliance with data
logging temperatures (#7.6.2.2), or by survey, where at least 80% of
building occupants must consider themselves comfortable in the building
climate (#7.6.2.1). This includes mitigating “local discomfort” (#5.2.4)
and reducing temperature variations with time (#5.2.5).
Solar heat transmitted through untreated windows is often the cause of
local discomfort. Occupant complaints about excessive heat or hotspots can
be completely mitigated by applying high performance, solar rejecting
window films (as referenced in section #5.2.4). Solar control window film
excels at moderating temperature variations over time, greatly improving
thermal comfort (as referenced in #5.2.5).
6. Innovation Credits
There is also an innovation category for up to four extra LEED credits
that you can apply for by making a case that a chosen building upgrade,
not currently covered under the LEED for Existing Buildings standard, has
improved the environment of the building.
There are two ways that window film can be used to apply for the
innovation credits. One way is to apply for a credit based on the
environmental benefits provided by blocking ultraviolet radiation through
solar control window film. Window film blocks 99% or more of harmful UVA
and UVB rays, which contribute to skin damage and skin cancer, and are the
leading factor causing fading to interiors. A second eligible credit could
be earned if fade reduction can be applied to reducing waste or improved
building maintenance, as specified in the Materials and Resources section
of the standard.
Optimize Your LEED Credits
There are many opportunities to leverage window film when applying for
LEED certification. While some categories seem to contradict each other,
it is important to review the entire set of opportunities and apply for
the areas that will provide the most impact for your building. Panorama
offers an array of window films with varying VLTs and heat rejection
properties. Analyzing your building and occupant needs in conjunction with
the LEED certification requirements will help you to select the best film
or set of films for your building.
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Commercial Tax Deduction
Maximize IRS tax deductions using Panorama® window film
in your energy savings plan
The EPAct of 2005 rewards energy-efficiency To promote
energy-efficiency and conservation, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 provides
attractive tax incentives for installing specific energy improvements to
commercial building property.
The act is designed to reward businesses that implement more than one
technology or product. While a one-time partial tax deduction is available
for an upgrade of any one system (lighting, HVAC, and building envelope),
additional technologies can net far greater tax incentives. The goal is to
encourage building owners to identify as many energy savings opportunities
as possible.
Window film is a very attractive technology due to its
ease of implementation and relative low cost and is classified in the
building envelope category. By itself, window film can provide from 5% to
15% savings of total energy used, but likely will not meet the minimum
energy savings threshold required to qualify for the tax deduction.
However, when implemented in combination with other products and
technologies (such as lighting or HVAC, which can each net a savings of up
to 50%) window film can provide a significant boost in the deduction
amount available to building owners because they can claim multiple energy
savings technologies and apply for higher deduction amounts, up to the
$1.80 maximum allowed per square foot.
 Window
film improves energy-efficiency of existing windows
Panorama offers a wide range of energy-efficient window film products that
can be installed to upgrade your existing windows. Panorama window films
reject considerable amounts of solar energy, which leads to lower
maintenance costs for air conditioning and higher comfort.
Building owners are often encouraged to upgrade their existing windows.
Replacing windows can be a very costly project, in terms of expense, time
for implementation, and disruption to on-going business activities.
Installing Panorama film on existing windows is a cost effective
alternative that can be accomplished quickly and professionally, without
interrupting business operations or disturbing building occupants.
Book energy savings while preserving the way your glass looks
Panorama’s state-of-the-art film products, the latest generation of
spectrally selective films, combine high clarity and high performance. The
amount of day light entering the building is optimized with high visible
light transmission properties, while simultaneously providing excellent
solar performance to reject solar heat. This allows building owners and
managers to preserve the original appearance of the building and increase
occupant satisfaction.
Also - with the ever increasing threat of terrorism, hurricanes and
burglary, all leading to potential glass breakage - Panorama offers a
range of clear, energy-efficient safety & security films. These films
combine a barrier against these threats with very powerful energy-savings.
Energy Savings Commitment
Installing Panorama window film on your property is a natural extension to
your energy savings commitment. With the added incentives provided by
EPAct, now is the time to make the commitment to the environment and to
your occupants before this deduction expires. If you are currently
pursuing an EPAct strategy, be sure to include window film in your plans.
If you’d like more information on how to get started,
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Residential Tax Credit
Receive a tax credit for installing Panorama
window film in 2009
**Tax credit only applies to window film installed on glass in vinyl
or wood framed windows**
 The
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 reinstated Federal tax
credits for consumers who make certain energy-efficient improvements to
their homes. This bill extended tax credits for energy efficient home
improvements, such as energy saving window film.
Under section 25C of the Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.), homeowners can
receive a 10 percent credit on the costs of "qualified energy efficiency
improvements," including Panorama solar control window film on windows,
doors, and skylights. Window film qualifies as insulation for the purposes
of the credit. This tax credit applies only to improvements made to a
primary residence from Jan. 1, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2010.
A tax credit is generally more valuable than an equivalent tax
deduction because a tax credit reduces your tax dollar-for-dollar, while a
deduction only removes a percentage of the tax that is owed. If you can
itemize energy-related purchases on your federal income tax form, it will
lower the total amount of tax you owe the government.
Homeowners can receive a 30 percent credit on the cost of the window
film, up to $1500. Installation costs do not apply, only the cost of the
film. This credit is in addition to any previous credit used.
Save On Your Energy Bills Now
 Cooling
costs related to the heat gained through windows can make up about 40
percent of a home's summer utility bill. Solar control window film reduces
total solar energy by up to 80 percent, which helps lower your energy
consumption. And the energy savings benefits go on year after year, long
after you have received the tax credit.
And the benefits don't stop there. In addition to energy savings all
year long, window film also can:
- Improve your comfort by eliminating hot spots and maintaining
interior temperatures
- Help protect your family from UV exposure, which can help prevent
certain forms of skin cancer
- Reduce glare
- Reduce fading of furnishings and interiors
Eligibility
 Any
homeowner who purchases and installs qualifying Panorama brands of solar
control window film (see
manufacturer’s certification for eligible films) between Jan. 1 and
Dec. 31, 2009 is eligible to receive a 2009 tax credit.
How to Receive Credit
Complete
IRS
form 5695 and file 2009 Income Tax Returns by April 15, 2010. Maintain
copies of the dealer invoice and the
manufacturer’s certification statement for your records. If you are
audited, you will need to provide these documents to the IRS.
Tax forms are downloadable from
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits#c1 or
the IRS website at
http://www.irs.gov/. For further information about energy tax credits,
visit
http://www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm.
To find out more information, please download the
2009 Tax Credit PDF.
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