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Posted on October 9, 2023 by Joshua Huff Nearly 1,000 birds flew to their deaths this past Thursday in Chicago after crashing into a lakeside convention center. Approximately 961 birds were found dead outside the mostly glass-clad McCormick Place Lakeside Center. Reports indicate the deaths were likely a result of the convention center’s bright lights and poor weather. The combination of the two confused the birds, which flew into the facility’s nearly all-glass exterior. Studies show lights on buildings in migratory flight paths confuse birds’ navigation systems. As a result, birds will circle buildings repeatedly and die of exhaustion or collision. “I’ve been in Chicago for 40 years and bird-watch all the time, and I’ve never seen anything like that,” Douglas Stotz, senior conservation ecologist at the Field Museum of Natural History, told The New York Times. Stotz added the previous record death total at the convention center numbered 200. He said rain and warm weather stalled the birds’ migration south. When the weather cleared, they flew to the city in mass, leading to a perfect storm at McCormick Place. The convention center has long been known to be a death trap for birds. Since the early 1980s, more than 42,000 birds have been found dead after they collided with its windows. There have been discussions to retrofit the windows with patterned screening, but high costs have been a deterrent, reported the Chicago Sun Times in 2022. Annette Prince, director of the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, told Insider that McCormick Place occasionally keeps its lights on throughout the evening, which drew in the birds. She said that given the center’s location off the lake, it’s “the first encounter on the lake that birds can run into.” McCormick Place issued a statement claiming its lights are turned off unless workers and visitors are onsite. However, there was an event during the week of the bird strikes, so the lights were sometimes on. McCormick Place stated it is “truly saddened by the incident” and does what it can to protect birds, including participating in the Lights Out Chicago program and maintaining a six-acre bird sanctuary. The Lights Out Chicago program, established in 1995, encourages occupants of tall buildings to turn off or dim their decorative lights. The goal is to reduce the total light emitted from the building from 11 p.m. until sunrise during migratory seasons (mid-March to early June and late August to mid-November). Illinois is well acquainted with bird deaths as a result of glass collisions. The state passed the Bird-Safe Buildings Act in 2021, which requires bird-friendly designs to be incorporated into the construction and renovation of state-owned buildings. The designs include screens and shutters to be incorporated into the building, along with various types of glass, including opaque, etched, stained, frosted, ultraviolet patterned or translucent glass. Chicago has held off on implementing a 2020 ordinance that would give greater weight to bird protection measures when evaluating whether new projects meet the city’s sustainable development requirements. More than eight million birds migrate through Chicago. Many birds killed by Chicago buildings are small migrants from the tropics–warblers, thrushes, and tanagers, among others. Reports indicate most of the birds killed on Thursday were tiny warblers. This article is from USGNN™, the daily e-newsletter that covers the latest glass industry news. Click HERE to sign up—there is no charge. Interested in a deeper dive? Free subscriptions to USGlass magazine in print or digital format are available. Subscribe at no charge Sign up today.

Washington, D.C. – May 18, 2023 – A recent poll of U.S. homeowners who have experienced fading of household furniture or floors near sunny windows, found 63 percent would consider having window film professionally installed to help reduce the sun’s heat, glare and its fading impact on furnishings for only a fraction of the cost of replacing the window itself. Window films block 99 percent of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays that are a leading cause of fading, along with light, heat and other lesser factors, according to the International Window Film Association (IWFA). “Americans are spending more on furnishing their homes, so they naturally want to preserve the investment they have made for as long as possible and it seems they know enough about the harmful impact of the sun’s UV rays to see window films as a way to reduce the sun’s damage,” said Darrell Smith, executive director of the IWFA. For example, if a home’s wood floor has faded and needs to be replaced, it can cost as much as $6,400 for a 10 by 20 room, according to a recent study, that also states wood floors are one of the most popular features used to sell a home. In addition to helping to reduce interior fading , professionally installed window films may upgrade existing windows to improve their energy saving performance at a fraction of the cost of replacement windows. When considering window films, contact a local window film professional. IWFA member businesses are found at www.iwfa.com/dealer-locator/. This survey was conducted online within the U.S. by The Harris Poll on behalf of the International Window Film Association from April 25 – 27, 2023 among 1,430 U.S. homeowners ages 18 and older, among whom 688 experienced fading. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.9 percentage points using a 95 percent confidence level. Source - https://iwfa.com/news/harris-survey-homeowners-with-fading/

Washington, D.C. - With November 3 marking the end of Daylight Savings and more pronounced shorter periods of daylight in the northern hemisphere, the nonprofit International Window Film Association is offering advice on how to maximize the benefits of indoor sunlight, while protecting the skin and furnishings. Shorter days and limited sunlight can cause people to feel down, decrease productivity and disturb natural sleep patterns. In more extreme cases the result is a form of depression know as #SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder. Fortunately exposure to bright light has been shown to alleviate the condition and improve performance. For example, according to the U.S Department of Education, children perform better in environments with natural light. Students in classrooms with the most day-lighting had a 20 percent better learning rate in math and 26 percent improved rate in reading compared to classrooms with little or no day-lighting. Similarly, a Cornell University study reports workers exposed to optimal daylight had a two percent increase in productivity, the equivalent of an additional $100,000 a year of value for every 100 workers. Workers in offices with optimized natural light also reported an 84 percent drop in symptoms of eyestrain, headaches and blurred vision symptoms, all of which can detract from productivity if not addressed. "On the other hand, too much indoor sunlight can be too bright and too warm, causing glare and thermal stress," said Darrell Smith, executive director of the IWFA. "The key is to balance the need for abundant natural light with the need to offer an even comfort level and protection for the skin and furnishings from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays," he added. Professionally installed window film may allow in ample natural sunlight without the downside risk of harmful UV rays that may damage the skin and eyes, cause hot-spots, glare and lead to higher energy costs. This article courtesy of the IWFA

What is Safety and Security Film? Safety and Security Window Film is a highly engineered, polyester film composite. It undergoes various testing and treatments to provide, a high degree of safety. Additional coatings on security films can offer other features such as solar control, glare protection, privacy and decorative enhancements for windows. Does Safety and Security Film Help with Accidental Glass Breakage? Yes, it does. Accidental breakage can occur when people or property come into contact with glazing. Whether accidental or deliberate, glass breakage can lead to serious or even fatal injury. If impact with glazing does occur and the glass breaks, security Window Film works to hold glass together in place, lessening the risk and severity of injury. How Does Safety and Security Film Help In Adverse Weather Conditions? Powerful winds, hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes can be damaging to people and property. Security Window Film may add shatter and tear resistance to glazing, helping it to absorb the impact of any debris, and helping the glass to remain intact during adverse weather conditions. Substantial damage can be caused by wind-borne debris colliding with glazing. In addition, if a window shatters and an opening is created, wind pressure inside a building may cause catastrophic damage. When the glass window remains in the window frame with security film, even if the glass itself has been shattered, the interior is more protected from the elements. What About Safety and Security Film and Blast Mitigation? The majority of injuries associated with bomb blasts are not caused by the blast itself, but by the glass shards from surrounding windows and doors that are blown out by the shock wave of the blast itself. Security Window Film helps to protect people and property by holding the glass together in the event of an attack. Are There Any Other Benefits Of Safety And Security Film? Security Window Film is cost effective and non-disruptive to install, and may offer a range of additional benefits such as improved thermal comfort, increased privacy and improved appearance. Based on proven energy savings, security films may also have a fast payback period. These films block 99% of the sun's harmful UV rays that contribute to fading of furnishings and cause harm to the skin in the form of cancers, cataracts and wrinkling. Information contained in this posting is courtesy of IWFA

Growth is a prerequisite for business success. In today's rapidly changing business environment, most companies need to grow just to stay in place. They need to expand market share, seek out related and new market opportunities, and constantly pursue new customers just to stay even over the long haul. To grow successfully, businesses need to build upon their success with current customer and grow outward from there. As such, the five steps to business growth are: 1. Satisfy Your Current Customers: The first step for business growth is to exceed the expectations of current customers. This reduces your customer turnover (churn), which means that you no longer have to find new customers just to replace current customers that have stopped buying from you due to poor service. 2. Increase Your Market Share in Your Current Market Space: Increase your overall market share with your current product line in your current market space. Satisfying your current customers strengthens your brand and proves that you live up to your brand promise. 3. Work with Current Customers to Determine New Product and Service Opportunities: Your best customers realize that you are an excellent and reliable supplier. Especially, with B2B (business-to-business) customers, these good customers will often invite you to help them in other related parts of their business where they may be having issues. They may also want your help to refine current products and services or to solve new problems that they may be facing. Pursue these potential opportunities aggressively, as they will bind you closer to these best customers and point the way to new product and service offerings that can then be offered to your entire customer base. 4. Pursue Market Opportunities Already Under Your Nose: Be easy to do business with and open to the potential customers that are contacting you today. In addition, follow up with and learn more about the newest customers that are buying from you. Why do they now need your products and services? 5. Actively Pursue New Products and Market Opportunities: This is the proactive part of growth and business development. It includes seeking out growing and profitable markets, solving customer's problems, and finding new market niches where your company can have a sustainable competitive advantage. Read the original article on David Shedd's Blog. Copyright 2019.

When you’re car shopping, it’s disappointing when the right deal finally comes along, but the color you want isn’t available. Don’t despair –a car color wrap is the perfect solution. A vinyl car color wrap can change the color and look of your vehicle without harming the original paint job or the value of the vehicle. In fact, a full vinyl wrap protects the entire exterior of your vehicle from the elements and normal wear and tear while it is on. If the right color isn’t available at the dealership, a car color wrap can give you the look you want. The Supreme Wrapping™ Film portfolio includes special and select finishes to meet a range of desired looks and custom effects. These finishes include chrome, gloss, metallic, pearl, matte, matte metallic and extreme textures. A newly expanded line of satin colors offer a softer finish and light reflecting Supreme Wrapping™ Film ColorFlow™ colors continue to multiply with unique iridescent shades. NEW! 2019 Spring Colors These new five colors create the coolest feel for the toughest car. For a wrapping film that combines supreme performance and application speed, choose the Supreme Wrapping Film. Call us today for more information 1-800-223-4385

1. Can You Use Window Film To Calm Anxiety In Animals? Yes, you can. For instance, if your dog goes crazy every time it sees another dog in the yard, you can use window film to block the view and lessen your dog’s anxiety. You still get the benefit of natural light streaming into your home, but you can make it so your dog can’t see out. No more dog barking nonstop while you’re at work, annoying the neighbors. The dog is calm and the whole house is quieter. 2. Can You Use Window Film To Keep Your Private Stuff Private? The world is getting more and more crowded. And we all value our privacy even more than before. With window film, you can protect your valuables from prying eyes. 3. Can Window Film Keep Broken Glass Together In The Even Of A Storm? Certain parts of the country suffer with horrific storms, winds–and worse. Window film can hold the glass together should it ever break. And that gives you peace of mind, either at home or in your business. For instance, restaurants can protect their patrons by installing window film. If there’s a storm and a window breaks, the glass holds together and flying glass shards are much less likely to hurt one of the diners.

Graffiti can look cool, it might even achieve “art” status. But there is a time and place for everything. When you have a business that is plagued by vandalism, then graffiti is far from cool. In fact, graffiti can be a nuisance that hurts a business, ruins the facade of the store, and means a lot of out-of-pocket expense to clean it all up. Indeed, graffiti can ruin the look and feel of a whole neighborhood when vandals choose to spray paint on the glass enclosure of a bus stop or windows on any structure downtown. When it comes to graffiti on a painted surface, the fix can be relatively easy – just paint over it. When it comes to graffiti on glass windows, however, the fix is not so easy. Most times, to get rid of graffiti on a window or the side of a bus, soap and water won’t do the trick. Paint thinner will be useless against paint that has long dried. Therefore, you are stuck replacing the window, usually at a high cost. Essentially, the idea behind anti-graffiti film is to place it on any glass surface. Then, if you have a vandalism incident where the surface is covered with graffiti, you simply pull the anti-graffiti film off. As you pull off the film, you easily take off the offending graffiti as well. Does Anti-Graffiti Film Have Other Good Benefits? The answer to that question is an unequivocal “yes.” When you use anti-graffiti film on windows (remember, the film is virtually invisible), you are able to tap into some other phenomenal benefits beyond preserving the appearance of the exterior of your property. Those benefits include: 1)Lower Clean Up Costs. As noted, the ease of simply removing window film saves a bundle compared to replacing a window. Moreover, the time it takes to remove, and replace window film is much less than replacing an entire window. 2) Reduction in Repeat Vandalism. Also, as noted above, the ability to quickly and completely remove graffiti is a disincentive to vandals. In other words, graffiti artists like to have their “work” be visible for a very long time, particularly if it is connected to other criminal activity. So, if they see that their work is immediately taken down, they will go elsewhere. 3) Scratch Protection. In addition to the benefits above, anti-graffiti film, like other protective films will prevent scratching, scraping, etching, or other physical damage. And if someone tries to engage in a little etching anyway, then the film is ultimately removable. 4) Protect Any Furnishing Inside. Anti-graffiti film is like other window films in that it has anti-UV ray qualities. That means that harmful UV rays cannot get through a window and otherwise prematurely fade curtains, furnishings, or other products inside your business.

As with many other consumer products, paint protection films were first developed and used by the military. During the Vietnam War, helicopter rotor blades and other sensitive parts of military transports were often damaged by flying shrapnel and debris. In order to help protect these moving parts the US Military had to come up with a solution that was both inconspicuous and low weight. The advantage of replaceable film over the replacement and repair of damaged rotor blades was immediately clear and it’s adoption was uncharacteristically quick for the US Military. As a result, there are still people who refer to PPF as “helicopter tape” although this term is becoming less and less common as automotive applications take precedence. Paint Protection films use by the military has continued to the present day. With time, however, the automotive industry began to take note of the protective benefits of PPF and it was soon being employed by race car drivers. Paint Protection Film is OEM approved by virtually all car manufacturers. Paint Protection has continued to evolve over the years and is now used for way more than cars. Paint Protection can be utilized to protect Tool Boxes, ATV's, Jet Ski's, Snow Mobiles, Boat Hulls, Rifle Stocks, Furniture Legs and even the Heels on your favorite pair of Shoes.

Stained glass windows are not just for churches, synagogues and cathedrals. A modern stained glass window can make an impressive style statement. But, nowadays people prefer faux stained glass window film instead of the conventional stained glass. A faux stained glass window film mimics the look of a stained glass window at the fraction of its cost. It is a kind of film that can be installed on any window and it comes in many designs, patterns and sizes. This kind of window films are of two types, adhesive-backed or static cling. Static cling films are easier to remove and are reusable, but are more difficult to clean as they attract dust. If you are interested in updating the decor of your home, without breaking the back, then you can consider installing stained glass window film. You can always purchase a stained glass window and get it installed, but the prices of a stained glass window is considerable even for the most simplest design. So the next best thing to do is get stained glass window film. These films are a low-cost option and you can choose from a variety of designs and styles. Most laymen will not be able to tell the difference between a traditional stained glass window and a stained glass window film. Remember to choose a design that matches the overall décor of your home. If you have a modern minimalistic home décor with clean lines and a monochromatic color scheme, then stick to geometric patterns in stained glass films. Use just three or four colors so that the colors pop out and make your room look cozy and inviting. If you live in a country-style house, then of course you can go for more intricate designs. Leaves, flowers, vines, birds and butterflies all make good patterns for this purpose. Natural landscapes, seascapes or small underwater life are also some good design options for decorative stained glass window films. re excellent for providing privacy for those windows where installing curtains and drapes are not that practical.These window films a