Function
Solar tinted glass is produced with specialized tints that change color depending upon the brightness of the sun. These windows have solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) ratings; the higher the rating, the more solar light and heat is allowed into a building.
Benefits
Solar light tinted windows can reduce the amount of glare and some solar radiation from entering a structure. However, different tints have different effects: a green/blue solar glass tint reduces heat transfer and allows more visible light to enter a structure; a gray/bronze solar glass tint equally reduces light and heat permeation from entering a building; black tinted glass is beneficial in cold climates as it absorbs light and creates added heat for a building.
Considerations
Solar glass tint comes as specialized window glass or as a thin film, or glazing, that is added over normal window glass. The thin film system is very adaptable as it allows you to change a window tint depending on a season and the amount of sunlight present.