About two weeks ago, I got a grand idea to give our west-facing windows a little upgrade.  We've always got the blinds closed on the west side because of the strong glare & heat that it radiates into the house.   I went out and bought some Low-E Window Film for about $30 (enough for 4-5 windows that are 3ft wide).  The product advertizes upto 70% less heat gain in summer and 55% heat savings in the winter.  Additionally, it advertizes reduced glare and 99% UV protection - which will prevent color fade for furnature, pictures, artwork, etc, etc.

This link explains more about how Low-E Window Film works.

The installation requires a lot of patience.  We ran out of patience after the first couple attempts & decided to take a break.  Basically, you're applying a 2'x3' sticker to a clean window surface & trying to minimize the bubbles, cuts, kinks, scratches, and folds.  The effort requires 2 people !!   After a couple attempts, Sarah and I got a process down & we also learned that we'd have to accept some small imperfections.   After installing the window film - it takes 10 days to bond (cure) to the window.

We've noticed a reflective quality to the window film & visually, it's like sunglasses for the windows.  Which causes less eye strain for us on the inside of the window.  The tint isn't as dark as you'd think - but it does a great job at reducing the glare from the sun.

We've only completed one room (the office); because we wanted to evaluate the looks, once we allowed it to cure.   In our office, we now keep keep the window blinds open & I don't get annoying glare on my monitors anymore.  

If I were buying new windows - I would select the Low-E option - however, since I've got decent windows already; this is a low cost, multi-benefit upgrade that takes a little time & patience.  I'm curious to see how they perform in the winter months.  

If your a friend of mine & you're considering this - let me know; I can assist.  Plus, I have the application kit that is used to install the product.