German firms adopt solar‑control films to cut cooling costs amid historic heat wave

The German Weather Service recorded a historic heat wave in June 2026, with a peak temperature of 41.8 °C on 27 June in Drewitz – the highest ever measured in Germany. Office, practice and commercial building owners reported increased air‑conditioning use and higher electricity bills. In response, many are installing spectrally selective high‑performance solar‑control films on glass façades. The films, such as 3M’s Prestige series, can reduce the glazing g‑value by up to 50 %, lower indoor summer temperatures by 3 – 6 °C, filter 99.9 % of UV radiation and preserve daylight. Installations can be carried out without shutting down operations, and the energy‑cost savings typically amortise the investment within two to four years. “Wirtschaftlich ist die Reihenfolge oft falsch,” says Stefan Ude, managing director of Ude FolierungsKonzepte GmbH, adding that “before deciding on new cooling technology, the building’s cooling load should be examined.” According to the Federal Statistical Office, 37.8 % of office and administrative buildings completed in 2025 have cooling systems, up from 30.9 % in 2015, highlighting the growing market for such retrofit solutions.