In Texas we tend to focus on the hot summer months and how we can beat the radiating heat, but those that suffered through the 2021 February deep freeze across the Lonestar State know that protection from the cold and frigid elements can be just as important.
The storm, which “brought days of subfreezing temperatures and widespread power outages, causing billions of dollars in damages and hundreds of deaths”, according to the Texas Tribune, might have seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime event, but it wasn’t.
Researchers have found that the February 2021 Article outbreak was indeed cold, but not without precedent in Texas.
“It is one of the lowest five-day average temperatures experienced in Texas over the past 40 years,” wrote David W. Titley a year ago for The Washington Post. “However, the December 1983 cold outbreak was as cold and long-lived as that of this past week. There was also a cold outbreak in early February 1985 on par with this past week. An examination of low temperatures shows the December 1989 and December 1983 outbreaks were slightly colder, on average, than February 2021.”
Texans Need to be Prepared for Extreme Heat and Cold
Titley argues that the extreme heat – and extreme cold – are a pattern we need to get used to.
“This is our world today. We are living in an era of record heat and extremes in precipitation. At the same time, we still endure bouts of severe winter, albeit with less frequency, that are just as cold as anything we have seen in the past 30, 40 or 50 years,” said the retired U.S. Navy rear admiral who serves as a board member of the Council on Strategic Risks and Chairs the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Climate Communications Initiative.
So, when it comes to risks and preparation, Texas homeowners need to make sure their homes are ready for the next dangerous cold snaps.
3M Window Film Prevents Cold from Seeping In
While most of us know that 3M window films can help you keep your cool during the summer by blocking some of the sun’s rays, some may be surprised that in the winter the window film can help stop frigid cold from seeping through the glass into your home.
“If you have to avoid certain areas of your home when the seasons change, it’s time to take back your space by getting the temperature under control – without the need for costly drapes and window treatments that block your view. 3M™ Window Films can help insulate your windows against excessive heat and cold, so you can enjoy the beauty of natural light in comfort, all year round,” says 3M.
3M says its window films can provide temperature control in the winter months by:
- Reflecting and dispersing heat back into the room
- Reducing cold spots inside your home
- Improving comfort during cold winter months
- Saving on heating costs with improved insulation
That last factor is very important in Texas where many homeowners were shocked this winter with escalating heating bills.
Windows can play a key role in keeping your energy costs in check with some 30 percent of all energy used to heat and cool homes in the U.S. escaping through their windows.
“Why put on another sweater?” asks 3M.
3M says its Low-E Window Films are like upgrading from a single-pane to a double-pane, or from a double-pane to a triple-pane.
Contact Sunset Glass Tinting today in the Houston area to find out more about how 3M window tinting can protect your home and keep you and loved ones warm during the winter.
