The International Energy Agency (IEA) says. Power plants fueled by crude oil, natural gas, and coal are the major culprits behind the increasing carbon emissions, which is why energy conservation in whichever way possible is being strongly emphasized upon by governments and international organizations. To achieve this, several pacts, such as the Kyoto Protocol, Montreal Protocol, and Paris Agreement, have been signed, which contain a detailed framework of the steps to be followed.
One of the major steps being taken in this regard is the construction of green buildings, with the government support being the strongest for net-zero energy buildings (NZEB). P&S Intelligence considers this to be a crucial factor for the growth of the solar control films market in the years to come. This is because the main purpose of green buildings is to use as little energy as possible, which is achieved not only by installing energy-efficient appliances but also by reducing the requirement for electricity at the source.
Since air conditioners account for significant electricity consumption, solar control films are being used to reduce the requirement for cooling. This is because solar control films reflect the heat and ultraviolet (UV) radiation of the sun that enters a room through windows, thus keeping the room cooler, which ultimately reduces the load on the AC compressor, thereby bringing down the power consumption. By blocking almost 98% of the UV radiation entering a room, these films also reduce the likelihood of premature skin aging, skin cancer, and cataracts and other eye issues.
This is why among the various types of solar films available, including dyed, clear, safety, vacuum-coated, infrared (IR), decorative, and sputtered, IR variants have witnessed a substantial0 demand in the past. In this regard, the booming construction industry in the perpetually hot regions of the earth, such as Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East, has been driving the demand for solar control films. Owing to the booming population, massive-scale construction is taking place in India, China, Malaysia, Brazil, and South Africa, all of which are located in the tropical or subtropical zone, therefore experience eternally warm weather.
Due to this reason, Asia-Pacific (APAC) has been the largest solar control films market till now, and it will continue being so in the years to come. China and India are already two of the largest construction markets in the world, with infrastructure development also now picking pace in Malaysia, Indonesia, and other emerging countries. Moreover, China, India, Japan, and South Korea are o among the largest producers of automobiles, which are another prominent application area for solar control films. Here, these films are used for the same purposes as buildings, to decrease the interior temperature, so that the load on the AC units decreases, as does the vehicle’s fuel efficiency.
In addition, solar control films also offer increased privacy, safety, and security. For instance, if a glass window breaks, the shards become a health hazard. However, solar control films attached to the window hold the glass together with adhesives, thereby controlling the shard formation. This property can also potentially stop burglaries, as they prevent robbers from breaking the window in one go, thereby giving those inside enough time to sound an alarm and send for aid. Moreover, by reducing the visibility through the glass, they offer people inside privacy from prying eyes.
Therefore, with the increasing construction and automotive production activities, the demand for solar control films will rapidly rise.
