The International Window Film Association (IWFA) is urging consumers to go green with window film this Earth Day, using the cost-effective films to save both money and energy.

“Through advanced engineering, today’s window films give you energy savings, a neutral carbon footprint, UV blocking and security benefits while letting visible light in,” said Darrell Smith, executive director of the IWFA. “This can mean up to a 30 percent reduction in cooling costs, while eliminating hot-spots and making your home more comfortable.”

When Earth Day began in 1970, fewer than half of U.S. homes were air conditioned (AC), but today nearly 90 percent of homes use AC, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 25 to 35 percent of the energy used in American buildings and homes is wasted due to inefficient windows adding up to 10 percent of national carbon emissions annually.

Professionally installed window films can offer significant savings in cooling expenses as well as add resale value to a home. For a single-family home, window film installation costs can range from $3 to $11 per square foot, depending on the type of window film installed, and the process can be completed in one or two days. More can be learned on the IWFA YouTube channel as well.

The payback period for window film can be less than two years, but of course, construction details, location and the type of window film used can alter the energy savings and return on investment.

The IWFA offers a free consumer booklet available on its website which the non-profits says helps consumers understand more about how window film delivers up to seven times the energy savings per dollar spent, as compared to installing replacement windows.