Window tinting of buildings across the US could be about to increase following the launch of a new energy efficiency drive by President Obama affecting all public and commercial buildings across the country. The new nationwide programme, termed the ‘Better Buildings Initiative’, is designed to incentivise commercial or public property owners and investors to increase energy efficiency by 20% in their buildings by 2020.
Representatives from the window film and window tinting industry believe it is highly likely that owners of existing buildings could opt for the application of quality solar protective window film as a relatively cheap, non-invasive, and measurable way of greatly reducing levels of energy consumption in their buildings.
Describing the initiative as ‘very encouraging news’, the International Window Film Association has drawn attention to the benefits of window tinting as a ‘technologically proven, cost effective, and environmentally friendly’ measure, and has said it now looks forward to seeing the full details of the programme.
It is hoped that the Better Buildings Initiative, described by the President as ‘one of the fastest, easiest and cheapest ways to save money, combat pollution and create jobs’ will combine tax incentives for building upgrade, with increased financing for commercial retrofitting measures such as window tinting, and public recognition programmes.
It remains to be seen of course whether such ‘green’ incentivising ideas will be taken up by UK policymakers, especially given that we are already witnessing the increased presence of window tinting in Manchester and other major UK cities.