Window Film Brings Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings To Florida Restaurant

This is an interesting article that discusses how this Florida restaurant used modern window films to address a heat and glare problem they were having in the dining area. They were able to address the issue and maintain the beautiful looks of their facility.

Published in Energy Efficient Markets, Written by Jeffery Plummer

When many people think of window film, they still envision the purple-tinted material used on cars in the 1980s, when it’s actually become a high-performance, versatile product.
It’s designed to keep out heat during the summer months and retain more heat during the colder months, helping save energy year round. Window film recently helped one Florida restaurant stay cool, save money and improve their customer experience.

The Firestick Grill in Tampa, Fla. – located inside the Amalie Arena where the Tampa Bay Lightning National Hockey League (NHL) franchise play – had a problem. The west side of the restaurant is dominated by a 200-foot-long wall of glass windows offering impressive views of the city of Tampa skyline. However, in the afternoon when the Florida sun was blazing in the western sky, customers would complain about the heat and glare, and often requested to be re-seated. Re-seating became difficult given the fact the restaurant is often at maximum capacity before a game or concert. In addition to the uncomfortable dining atmosphere, the restaurant’s cooling costs were also too high.

“You could really feel it during the summer months,” says Darryl Benge, general manager of the Amalie Arena. “You can feel the heat coming through the glass, and customers used to ask us to turn up the AC.”

Management knew something had to be done. They tried installing wooden shutters, but the upper sections couldn’t block all of the sunlight. After mulling the options, management decided to install window film to reduce the sun’s glare and increase the restaurant’s overall energy efficiency. Management consulted with an authorized Madico film installer who after evaluating the property was able to recommend the window film that would best meet the restaurant’s needs.

Window film was installed on about 4,600 square feet of glass. When the restaurant re-opened, customers immediately noticed a big difference. Without spoiling the views, the window film significantly reduced the amount of heat and glare shining through and patrons were no longer asking to be re-seated. The window film allows the restaurant to retain its bright and open feel. You can read the rest of this article by clicking HERE