At each NASCAR race event, 3M will have a booth display displaying 3M Window Film; 3M will have a demonstration car with Crystalline 70 and Color Stable 35 applied. The driver side and passenger side windows will have an interactive QR code sticker applied to the outside to help visitors learn even more about 3M Window Film. Those visitors can also find out where to have 3M Window Film installed in their area. 3M will send the location directly to their inbox with a link to the residential and automotive coupons, helping drive customers directly to those dealers.

Those who attend the booth will obtain a 15% off coupon for automotive window film ($250 minimum order) and residential installations ($1,000 minimum order). 3MM will be giving away hats throughout the day, and one consumer will receive a free window film installation each day (up to a $250 value). To coincide with this, 3M will update content from each race location via their Facebook page so users can follow activity throughout the events at each race.

See below for the races and dates at which we will be promoting 3M Window Film:

• Daytona (2/23, 2/24, 2/25, 2/26)
• Loudon (7/14, 7/15)
• Bristol (8/24, 8/25)
• Chicago (9/15, 9/16)
• Dover (9/29,9/30)
• Kansas (10/20, 10,21)
• Phoenix (11/10, 11/11)

You can find more information at the Cincinnati Home & Garden Show’s Website

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — The International Window
Film Association (IWFA) is educating the public about the harmful impact that
strong winter sunlight has in the United States and it is urging consumers to
consider installation of window film on their homes before the energy tax credit
expires.

“People in northern states may not know that because of the low angle of the
winter sun, more ultraviolet rays may come through a window into the living
space than in the summer in Florida,” said Darrell Smith, executive director of
the nonprofit IWFA.

The IWFA is also making the public aware of the expected end of the
government home improvement energy tax credit on December 31st, 2011. Consumers
are eligible for up to a $500 home improvement energy tax credit for the
installation of window film.

“Easily installed window film blocks up to 99% of harmful UV rays, and
reduces solar heat gain to save consumers on cooling costs in warmer months as
well,” said Smith.

“With unrestricted access to your home’s interior, the winter sun’s in-line
position with windows can literally make a home’s furniture, drapes and artwork
a faded memory,” added Smith. “Now is the time to invest in window film. The
purchase provides returns year-round by protecting furnishings from fading,
creates a consistent home temperature and keeps you and your belongings safe
from UV exposure.”

The IWFA shares facts on UV protection, when comparing window film to
alternatives:

Single-paned normal glass blocks only 25% of UV rays

Double-paned normal glass windows block 40% of UV rays and low-e glass
windows block up to 75% of UV rays

All quality solar control window films for residential use block 99% of UV
rays

About the International Window Film AssociationThe International Window Film
Association ( www.iwfa.com ) is a unified industry body of window film dealers,
distributors, and manufactures that facilitates the growth of the industry by
providing unbiased research, influencing policy and promoting awareness of
window film. The organization builds alliances with trade associations,
utilities and government agencies to advance dealers and distributors businesses
and provide value to their customers.

SOURCE International Window Film Association

Retrieved from http://www.marketwatch.com/story/winter-sun-is-more-damaging-to-a-northern-homes-interior-than-the-summer-sun-in-florida-but-help-is-available-with-window-film-2011-11-30?mid=5402

MARTINSVILLE, VA - The International Window Film Association (IWFA) today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passage of residential energy efficiency retrofit legislation that provides rebates to consumers who purchase and install specified energy saving measures, including window film products. The House bill (H.R. 5019) creates the Home Star Retrofit Rebate Program which provides two opportunities – the Silver Star path and the Gold Star path – to facilitate energy efficiencies in homes. H.R. 5019 passed the House by a vote of 246-161.

“Congressional passage of Home Star program legislation is a major victory for the window film industry and consumers who wish to lower their home energy bills,” said John Parker, president of IWFA. Darrell Smith, IWFA executive director, added, “This skillfully crafted bill recognizes the importance of highly-efficient window film, while embracing fiscally responsible and environmentally friendly home improvement solutions. I commend Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (CA), Energy and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey (MA), and Representatives Rick Boucher (VA) and Tom Perriello (VA) for their dedication to the window film industry and the Home Star program.”

Under H.R. 5019, homeowners would be eligible to receive a rebate totaling up to 50 percent of an energy efficiency project, not to exceed $3,000 per home (Silver Star). The Gold Star path provides homeowners with rebates of $3,000 who reduce home energy consumption by 20 percent, with additional rewards of $1,000 for each 5 percent improvement up to $8,000 or 50 percent of the total retrofit cost. Certain window film qualifies under the Silver Star and Gold Star paths, with Silver Star rebates totaling $500 for window film installed on at least 8 exterior windows, doors or skylights, or 75 percent of the total exterior square footage of glass in the home.

For more information on the International Window Film Association, visit www.iwfa.com.

###

IWFA is an organization consisting of U.S. manufacturers of finished window film products. With locations in Alabama, California, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Virginia, its members produce more than 85 percent of the total world’s window film, while supporting approximately 7,000 small business owners and their employees nationwide who sell and install window film.

In general, water-based paint should come off easily but oil-based paint may be a problem. Oil-based paint may react with the tint’s hardcoat and dissolve into it. The only way to eliminate the spot is to remove the hardcoat. Be sure to test the cleaner or spirits on a small corner first. Remember to wash the window immediately afterward with soap and water to remove any excess alcohol, cleaner, or spirits.

Thanks to legislation enacted this year, Cincinnati residents are eligible for up to 15 years of property-tax exemption for LEED-certified new homes or remodeling projects, and local green builders are reaping the rewards.

As of January 2008, new LEED-certified Silver and Gold homes can receive 15 years of city and county tax relief for homes valued up to $500,000; LEED Platinum homes have no maximum-value limit. A 10-year tax abatement period also is offered for residential remodeling projects as small as $2,500 that meet LEED certification standards.  Sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED for Homes is a rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes.

Area builders are cashing in on the interest in green building that the program has generated with city residents.

“It’s helping business, we’ve picked up a couple of jobs because of it,” said Andy Hueber of John Hueber Homes, which has  four LEED-certified homes in the program so far.

Hueber said the plan has spurred city residents to consider green products and technologies. “A lot of people have heard about it and they come to us and ask about it and then we educate them about what it involves,” he said.

Since becoming involved in the program, Hueber said his company has taken on more green projects, even outside the city limits. “It gives us a nice edge,” he noted. “It was a challenge learning how to build to LEED specifications at first but it’s gotten easier.”

Thanks to the incentives, many other local builders also are finding a niche in eco-friendly construction and remodeling, according to Barb Yankie of Green Building Consulting, a Cincinnati-based energy-rating firm.

“All of our builders are going for LEED,” said Yankie. “It’s raised interest in LEED, and is definitely a marketing tool that builders can use right now to help sell homes–they’re trying anything they can right now.”

Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory and city council members devised the program to provide an added benefit for owners of new and retrofit sustainable homes, according to Eric Denson, senior community development analyst. All city, county, and school board taxes are waived for qualifying homes.

“The impetus was really to combat energy costs,” he said. “The main concern was dealing with rising costs, at a time when gas prices were through the roof.”

In addition, Denson said, city officials felt it was “an environmentally smart thing to do.”

By: Jennifer Goodman

And it’s not just any normal window tint that we bought off of eBay and cut up with scissors, this stuff is 3M’s new Crystalline Automotive Window Film. This is a fancy way for 3M to say that they’ve created a new window film that rejects 99.9 percent of UV rays (with a total SPF rating that exceeds 1,700), 97 percent of infrared radiation, blocks heat, and is nearly completely invisible to the naked eye.

Prescription Windshields of Chandler, Ariz., had previously installed the 3M Crystalline film into Project WRX V.08, Project EVO IX and Project Corolla. The window film promised to reduce cabin heat, prevent deterioration of the dashboard (and other interior panels), and reduce the degradation of racing seat fabric and safety harness webbing due to ultraviolet rays. The fact that the film didn’t attract the attention of the police, due to its clarity and its low reflectivity when compared to standard tint, was an added bonus.

The 3M Crystalline film was specifically designed for automotive windshield use, installs the same as any other window tinting film, and comes in four different grades. All the grades (40, 50, 60, and 70) share the same UV and IR blocking capability. Crystalline 40 Auto Window Film, the darkest available, transmits 39 percent of visible light into the cabin and reduces solar heat by 50 percent. Crystalline 70, the film installed in all three of our project cars, is the lightest available, transmitting 68 percent of visible light and reducing solar heat by 38 percent.

After showing it off to staff members from our sister magazines Turbo and Import Tuner, with whom we share our office space, the buzz began. Once we entered the thick of our blazing Southern California summer, we decided to carry out a test of the 3M Crystalline film’s ability. Once our results came back, it was over. Soon, every magazine in the office was talking about the stuff and scouring the Internet, trying to track it down.

With the air temperature reading a steady 101-degrees Fahrenheit, we took Project EVO IX out, along with another white Lancer Evolution, which was not equipped with any window tint. We did our best to stabilize the cabin air temperature between the two cars with a short drive and lots of air conditioning, and then it came time to park the two test vehicles.

Wireless digital thermometers (with a linear range up to 140-degrees F) were placed throughout both cars in the same areas. There would be one right on the windshield inside the cabin, one on the center console out of direct sunlight, and one sitting outside on the plastic shelf directly below the windshield wiper blade. Both cars were parked in open direct sunlight, facing the same direction, out of the way of any shade, and were closed and sealed at the same time.

Project EVO IX’s starting temperatures were 105.3-degrees inside of the windshield, 100.7-degrees cabin air, and 92.3 degrees outside. The test EVO’s starting temperatures were 107.4-degrees inside of the windshield, 99.8-degrees cabin air, and 100.9-degrees outside. After an hour of baking in the sun, both cars were re-checked.

Project EVO was now reading 156-degrees inside of the windshield (which was outside of thermometer’s accurate range), 126.8-degrees cabin air, and the outside probe was pegged beyond its range. The test EVO finished with 130.1-degrees cabin air, and both the outside and windshield probe had pegged beyond their range. Perhaps most significant was the ending dashboard temperature, which we measured with a laser pyrometer. With both dashboards starting from the 108-degree range, Project EVO IX ended up with a dash temperature of 167-degrees, a full 25-degrees cooler than the test EVO’s 192-degrees F. Now we’re kicking ourselves for not equipping one of the project cars with 40-grade film and seeing the difference the darker film could make.

The 3M Crystalline window film can help make any car cooler and easier to live with, all while protecting the interior panels and fabric. This is something that is important for any project car, especially one that you plan on keeping for a long time. The fact that the film is clear is an added bonus, especially if you ever take your project car to a track day, or are fearful of police attention. With the 3M Crystalline film’s metal-free construction, it also won’t interfere with radio reception or cell phone communication. If you look closely, you can see a slight colored tint and visual distortion on the windows of our project cars, but you’ll have to stare carefully. At a casual glance, most won’t notice the film at all. Our front windshields are even covered in 3M Crystalline film and we haven’t noticed any downsides at all. Now that’s refreshing.

By Joey Leh