Sunlight

In warm weather, the problem with storefront conversions becomes excessive heat. Traditionally, blinds, shades and awnings provide a flexible solution to controlling solar heat gain.  They can be adjusted to the time of day and season, and are reasonably priced. Placement of trees also assist in blocking sun in the summer, and allowing light to filter through in the winter. 

Modern technology has provided many new options to controlling the effect of sunlight on the interior environment, including:

• Glass Coatings and Glazing Film: On existing storefront windows, a coated polyester glazing film can be applied to the interior glass surface to provide solar insulation.  Working like sunglasses, these low-cost films come in a variety of colors, and generally have a 10-20 year lifespan. 
  
  
• Tinted Glass: If you are replacing the storefront window, one option is to install tinted glass to reduce heat gain. Tinted or heat-absorbing glass takes in some of the sun’s energy and disperses the heat to both the interior and the exterior spaces. The exterior facing part of the window also reflects a certain amount of energy before the glass absorbs it. 
  
  Along with reducing heat gain, the amount of light allowed into the interior space may be significantly reduced. Unfortunately, the tints are a permanent part of the glass. 
  
  
• Low “E” Window Films: Factory-coated window films, known as “low E,” are also becoming more common than tinted glass for reducing heat gain, especially in residential spaces. Typically colored pink, yellow or blue, or sometimes clear, the film is placed between layers of insulating glass and lasts about 15 years, or the lifespan of the window seal. 

The most significant drawback of films and tints is that, as the degree of solar protection increases, the amount of daylight entering the space also decreases. Another disadvantage for artists intending to show their work through the window is that the deeper the shading, the more mirror-like the glass becomes from the outside. 

TIP: If you are interested in storefront living, you can lobby the Department of Zoning and the Department of Planning and Development for the creation of additional B2 districts, which allow artist live/work spaces on the ground floor of commercial- and business-zoned properties. Artist live/work space allows up to 50% of the floor space to be dedicated to art production. You can also file a special use approval application, which will allow you to increase art-dedicated floor space up to 60%!