By Special to the Town Crier

Too much sunlight and too much heat can become problems as spring moves into summer. Everyone seems to have at least a room or two which become uncomfortable when the weather heats up. Here are ideas for enjoying the season’s light and heat, but on your own terms.

Will sun control screens or shades darken my room too much? No. Depending on the screening fabric that you choose, there are openness factors of 5-70 percent and lighter colors that transmit more light. Open areas omit light of full intensity. Light is not tinted in volume, allowing good lighting with reduced glare.

Will sun control screens or shades affect house plants? No. Most house plants require filtered light. Shading reduces yellowing and water loss. In most cases, plants do better with shading than without.

Will sun control screens or shades damage my glass? No. Sun control screens protect glass from solar exposure and heat gain.

Will sun control screens or shades improve my window thermal performance? Yes. A single pane of glass will experience approximately 15 percent improvement in thermal performance with exterior screens. Interior shades also improve thermal performance and increase comfort levels considerably.

What color should I use for the most heat reduction? Dark colors should be used on exterior screens and light on interior shades.

Are interior shades as effective as exterior screens? Depending on the openness factor and color, interior shades can equal exterior screen performance. For instance, white vinyl-coated fiberglass on the interior and charcoal fiberglass solar screening on the exterior perform equally.

How much ultraviolet light do sun control fabrics block? Ultraviolet blockage depends upon the fabric’s weave and openness. In general, the ultraviolet blockage percentage will be the opposite of openness factor.

Do sun control screens and shades provide nighttime privacy? Visability through shades depends on light location. Lighted interiors allow inward visibility at night.

Can sun control fabrics be made into decorative shades? Yes. Local workrooms that do roman shades, pleated shades, drapes, etc. can produce beautiful shades from these transparent fabrics.

Where are these products available? “Insect Screening” or “Replacement Screening” are available at most hardware or home center dealers and through screen shops, which are listed in the Yellow Pages under “Screens-Door and Window.”

Contractors and home improvement firms may obtain products through their normal building materials suppliers.