Window Tinting: An Environmentally Friendly Choice
In modern society, living without a vehicle is impossible for most people. Our cars let us travel long distances in comfort, no matter what the outside conditions. Unfortunately, though, the gas we burn in our engines creates carbon dioxide emissions that are a leading cause of global warming. Emissions from cars and trucks are responsible for one-fifth of the United States’s gases that contribute to global warming.
Anything that reduces your gas consumption also reduces your environmental impact, so it’s important to look at ways to improve your fuel economy. Although it may surprise you, window tinting is an excellent way to do this.
Blocking Sunlight = Fuel Savings
The film that’s applied to car windows when they’re tinted works by blocking certain amounts of the visible light that would otherwise stream right in through your window. Since this visible light is responsible for a good portion of the heat inside a car, window tinting can reduce the temperature in a car by as much as 60% (the actual percentage will be determined by the type and darkness of the film, as well as the outside conditions).
When you reduce the temperature inside your car, that means you don’t have to run your air conditioner as much to cool it down. Since running the air conditioner uses more fuel, this means you’re saving energy.
Cost Effective
Many types of energy improvements for your vehicle, like engine-monitoring systems or replacing components with lower-weight alternatives, cost a lot for a comparatively low return on investment (ROI). Window tinting, on the other hand, is one of the most affordable and quick modifications that can be performed on a vehicle, and the energy savings can be substantial.
Check State Regulations
The environmental benefits of window tinting are especially great when the average temperatures are high and there tends to be a lot of sunlight. This is why a lot of southern US states have laws allowing for darker window tints that are more effective at reducing car temperature. If you find that you’re running your air conditioner for a large part of the year, check your state’s laws to find out if you can reduce your environmental impact.
See also:
Health Benefits of Car Window Tinting