This is such a great question! I am about to move to a floor level apartment in my building and the bedroom window is going to be on the public walkway side. I hate having to keep the blinds closed for privacy and not be able to get light in the room :-( I was dreading having to spend the money for the special window treatment (that gives privacy and still blocks the worst heating rays of the sun) you can buy at home stores where you place slightly soapy water on the window, apply the coverings, use a squeegee to smooth out bubbles and cut edges with an exacto knife.
Anyway, wax paper will most likely work just as well so I am going to try it using the same process! If that process won't work I'll just use clear two sided sticky tape. The only difference in applying is there will be a little more work because it won't be one large, wide sheet like the store application but it will have the same effect as the store bought ;-)
If you did mean foil, please don't do it unless you have no immediate neighbors. It's tacky and they have to look at it. As a matter of fact, it's against the law in some city's, towns, counties. If you don't have neighbors who have to look at it and not against your local codes, put it non-shiny side out ;-)
Shiny side? Aren't you talking about foil? At least that is what I have always used and waxed paper doesn't have a shiny side. However, I love learning new things so let the learning begin!
Use bubble wrap instead, even recycled/leftover bubble wrap. Check out this web page for a great way to use bubble wrap to insulate windows. All you do is wet the window pane (inside room) with plain water, stick the 'cut to fit size' bubble wrap on the glass, and leave it. It says you can even use second hand bubble wrap from furniture, shipping, etc. I haven't had the chance to do this yet, but I'm going to make time very soon. I hope you can get to this website! http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Conservation/bubblewrap.htm
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Tip: Use Waxed Paper To Lower Summer Cooling Costs (06/25/2009)
At any Lowe's or hardware store, you can purchase tinted window film to help prevent sun from entering into your house and running the air conditioner constantly OR you can do as we have and save money.
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Tip: Use Waxed Paper To Lower Summer Cooling Costs
Archived on 06/25/2009
At any Lowe's or hardware store, you can purchase tinted window film to help prevent sun from entering into your house and running the air conditioner constantly OR you can do as we have and save money.
Tape cut sheets of waxed paper that you have custom cut to fit all of your different sized windows. You will find that waxed paper blocks the sun's heat from coming into the room BUT plenty of light is still coming through from the sun itself. A roll of waxed paper is more "cost wise" in my book than having to purchase window tinting film that is hard to install if not impossible to work with.
We live in a Mobile Home that sits in full sun all day, I crack or open the windows on the side of the house that doesn't get much sun and turn the heat pumps fan only on. This way air is pulled in from the outside and circulates the air with in the house keeping us cool. Moving air keeps you cooler than stagnant non- circulating air does AND this works even if there is no wind at all outside! It does not cost a lot to run the fan only on your unit, perhaps only pennies a day.
Source: My being extremely frugal and a self taught tightwad created this for us.
By Paula Jo from Mebane, NC
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RE: Use Waxed Paper To Lower Summer Cooling Costs
Doesn't the wax melt and stick to the windows? (06/02/2008)
By ginok
RE: Use Waxed Paper To Lower Summer Cooling Costs
I am going to give that idea a try, even those solar panels that you can get from Carol Wright gifts, you do get a cooler room but you can't see much outside, and it does make the house pretty dark. So I am going to try this waxed paper thing, as long as, as the lady says, the wax doesn't melt onto my window. (06/02/2008)
RE: Use Waxed Paper To Lower Summer Cooling Costs
Another good cool-shade producer is those emergency blankets that look like foil. They reflect the sun and keep the inside of your house cool (though they don't let in light). I use these with suction cups with clips and clip them on the east window at night so when the sun comes up my daughter's room doesn't get too hot. In the afternoon I move it to my west window. (06/02/2008)
I too am in NC, mobile home and full sun. I tinted all the windows in my home in FL. I'm trying the wax paper tomorrow. Also that "Fan Only", thanks ever so much for sharing. (06/02/2008)
We use aluminum foil. Place the shiny side out and put a piece or two of scotch tape on it. The sun will hit the shiny side and reflect it back and keep it cool and (a little) darker inside. (06/03/2008)
