A Guide to Understanding Visible Light Transmission

Visible light transmission is important to understand if you want your car or home windows tinted. Learn about it with this guide.

When is the last time you've been happy to see your energy bill? 

If it has been a while, the windows in your home or office might be to blame. The amount of light that passes through your windows can have a major impact on solar heat gain year-round.

What can you do if you love natural light but your wallet doesn't? 

The key is understanding visible light transmission. This measurement helps explain the amount of visible light passing through a lens, such as your windows! You can control the VLT value of your windows when you work with Maximum Shade Tinting to strike the perfect balance between light and comfort.

We've put together this guide to help explain visible transmittance for windows and why your current windows might be less efficient than you think. Tinting can make a massive difference - and not just when it comes to ambiance and aesthetics! Keep reading to learn more about how Maximum Shade Tinting can help!

What Is VLT?

Think about your favorite pair of sunglasses and how they protect your eyes when you're out and about on a sunny day. They make it easier to see, keep things cool, and prevent the UV rays from harming your eyes. Tinted windows can provide the same benefit for your home. 

It all has to do with Visible Light Transmission or VLT. You might also hear it referred to as Visible Light Transmittance or VT. These are two related values.

While we express VLT as a percentage, we express VT as a number between zero and one. We often use these values interchangeably, but windows are usually described using VT. 

Put simply, the VLT or VT value represents the amount of visible light that passes through glass. A high number or percentage means that more light can pass through the glass. 

If you have a VT value of 0.5, that means that 50% of the light can pass through your windows. If you have a VT value of 1, then 100% of the light can pass through. 

Even in colder climates, a high VT value can lead to heat gain and impact your energy use. Window tinting and solar control window films are a great way to customize the VT value of your windows. You can ensure you are getting enough light without turning your home or office into a greenhouse!

Why Would I Want to Adjust My VT? 

Different rooms receive different amounts of sun exposure. While that might shift somewhat throughout the year, you can use that information to help determine a sweet spot.

Some rooms in your building might benefit from higher visible light transmission, while others will be more pleasant and efficient with less light transmission. 

Too Little Light?

Consider a window with northern exposure. This window will get little direct light. You might want to brighten things up by ensuring those windows have a high VT value. 

It is more pleasant and productive to live and work in a room with adequate natural light, not to mention more comfortable! The extra light will also help warm things up during the cooler months. That means you can keep the heat running lower in the wintertime. 

The right amount of light can help save you a lot of money on your energy bill over time. Plus, you might find yourself using the room more when it's no longer dark and dreary! A little light goes a long way when it comes to improving your overall mood!

Too Much Light?

In contrast, a window with southern exposure will fill up with direct light from sunrise to sunset. This can make it difficult to see, and add a lot of unwanted heat, especially during the warmer months. A south-facing room will heat up quickly and demand that you keep the AC running all day long! 

Too much light can also lead to fading inside of your home or office. This can impact textiles, such as couches and other furniture, as well as photographs and wall art. Instead of brightening things up, the added light will begin to make things look drab. 

Extra light can have another unanticipated effect, especially in offices. It creates glare that makes it challenging to see and interact with digital screens. Adjusting the light in a room can increase productivity and reduce eyestrain. 

Furthermore, you don't want to forget about the damaging effects of UV rays on the skin. Over time, these harmful rays will cause irreversible damage to your DNA that is entirely preventable. If you're currently in direct sunlight all day, tinting your windows can have a major impact on your long-term health. 

We can work with your existing shading strategies to ensure the perfect balance between light and heat, based on the location of your windows. Our solar control window films can solve all of these problems and more. Best of all, the aesthetic is up to you!

Mastering Visible Light Transmission

At the end of the day, visible light transmission, or VLT percentage, is a little number that can help explain a big problem! If you want to be the master of your domain, your window tint professionals at Maximum Shade Tinting can help. Our experts can help take the guesswork out of finding the perfect VLT value for your home or office space.

Are you ready to let the sunshine in... or keep it out? Reach out today to schedule a free estimate from a window tinting professional. We can't wait to help you tame heat, reduce fading, and save energy!