Windows could save the planet
A WINDOWS invention could help save the planet by illuminating the office, but keeping the heat out.
If that sounds like the opposite of Microsoft Windows, which generates a lot of heat and leaves most users in the dark. That’s because it’s got nothing to do with Bill Gates.
The invention by Sumitomo 3M is a new transparent window film. Initial reaction to it was cool – as you might expect, reports www.nikkei.net. But what a difference the Kyoto Protocol made.
The window film, the Nano70S, selectively reflects the infrared part of the sun's spectrum, letting in light without neutralising the air-conditioning. With obvious energy savings. And, air born viruses don’t circulate around the building, there’ll presumably be less sickness too.
The Nano70S blocks over 90 per cent of the infrared end of the light spectrum.
As an added benefit, the window film can stop glass from shattering if Wiggins from accounts decides to end it all in a spectacular fashion.
Unlike another type of Windows, which has been known to crash. µ
L'INQ
www.it-footprint.co.uk
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How does window tint affect circulation of infectious organisms in a closed environment?
If you read the article properly, you'll see that the virii reference was connected to the air conditioning. Cutting the amount of heat that comes in through the windows reduces the necessity to keep the air conditioner running, in turn reducing the amount of re-circulated air and consequently reducing the amount of nasty disease stuff flying around the building.

At least that's the theory.
My interpretation of what he didn't say is that infrared causes surface heating which, in turn, causes convection currents to form, maybe moving nasty sneeze-borne virii farther from the donor than would occur in a non-infrared-radiated space?
Hey John

It's the air conditioning which spreads Infection. The film reduces heat entering the building windows via infra red. As such, there is no need for air conditioning inside the building, Ergo, by not needing to have the air conditioning on, the film will indirectly reduce the spread of infection.

Hope that makes sense.
What's so new about this?
Manufacturers like V-kool have been selling this solution to cars and houses and offices for years.

The sun control film on my car reflects over 90% of infra red and 99% of UV.
it keeps the car cooler in summertime. Also it reduces the "burning steering wheel" when the steering wheel has had sunlight shining brightly on it for a few hours.
i just figured it out!
the inquirer is really something to entertain the elderly or other folks that have their finger far away from the pulse of IT
You'd be horrified to see the amount of metal framed single glazed windows in American commercial buildings. This causes a huge waste of energy, especially A/C. We should replace those windows but its not practical so the next best thing would be this type of film to act as a stopgap.
The point some missed is the film is clear not tinted. Tinted film has been around for a while blocking the heat by blocking the incomming light but almost nobody wants that on a house. This should be a big hit in the US with the rising energy costs.
I guess that this would be fine in tropical climes, where excluding infrared radiation would save on air conditioning. But what about that rather significant portion of the world's buildings that reside in more temperate climes? You know, where we have winter. When it is cold? Sometimes very cold? What happens to the energy savings then? Would not winter losses negate summer savings?
Windows tinting that filters infrared is decades-old!
This is transparent and can be used on any building window. It can be used for both summer and winter heating and cooling as it will block IR and not UV both ways. 

You have light coming through but not heat so it prevents warmth coming in during the summer and leaving during the winter. Great stuff.