Cut Energy Bill Costs With An Amazon Find That Gives Glass Doors & Windows More Privacy

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Finding ways to reduce energy costs at home is a constant focus of American households, where money spent on energy is a significant part of the budget. The average monthly utility bill climbed to $280 in early 2026, according to the Century Foundation. Windows represent one of the largest culprits for heat gain and loss, in turn accounting for a major chunk of your household's energy bill. Choosing the right windows for your home to replace older, drafty windows can help, but there are other (less expensive) steps you can take to combat energy loss from the windows in your house, such as this Dwersty One-Way Window Privacy Film from Amazon.

Reflective films like this one prevent sunlight from heating up your home, in addition to enhancing privacy without significantly affecting the amount of natural light you receive. The black-silver color yields a mirrored look when viewed from the outside during daylight, preventing others from seeing inside. (However, at night and on cloudy days, the film no longer has a mirrored effect.) 

Although it's challenging to specify the exact amount of money you could save on your cooling bill by using reflective film, some manufacturers estimate a savings of $1 to $2 per square foot of film used, or 10% to 30% on your annual air conditioning costs. If you have the reflective film professionally installed, you can expect to earn back your investment in one to three years. You can potentially receive a faster payback by doing the installation yourself, which this Amazon privacy film works well for. The film is made for DIY installation using static cling instead of glue. Depending on the pre-cut size of film you select, you could pay $6 to $90 (or between less than $1 to $2 per square foot of coverage).

This product has more than 5,000 reviews, and about 83% of customers give it a 4- or 5-star rating. Several Amazon customer reviewers said the Dwersty privacy window film successfully cut down on the amount of heat from sunlight and ultraviolet light passing through the windows, making the interior of the house feel more comfortable. "I believe it does help keep heat from the sun out to some extent, more than I expected actually," one Amazon reviewer said.

Some reviewers are impressed with the longevity of the film, even though it uses static cling instead of adhesive to stick to the window. "A year in, and it's still flawless — no fading, no peeling," one Amazon customer said. However, a few other reviewers said they could never get the film to adhere correctly, causing them to downgrade it in their ratings.

Many reviewers appreciated the level of privacy that the window film provides for the home. Even though the film blocks people from seeing inside during the day, it doesn't completely block the view outside or the natural light passing through the window. One reviewer described it as muting the exterior light that's coming in from outdoors instead of completely blocking it. I "put [it] on [my] bathroom window for privacy but [it] still lets in light for my plants," another reviewer said.

Among the roughly 7% of customers who left 1-star reviews on Amazon, most of the complaints related to installation problems. Some people struggled to make the film cling, while others noticed bubbles and scratches after installing it. One customer reviewer said the best way to ensure a successful installation is to purchase the pre-cut size that's slightly bigger than what you need for the window or glass door where you want to use it, then cut it to fit. The same reviewer bought smaller pieces that were on sale and tried to slide them together like a puzzle. "My advice, get the size that fits your window the best. Don't be like me," the reviewer said. Several reviewers said having a printed grid on the backing for the film makes it far easier to cut straight lines and create the perfect fit for each piece.

As for which windows will receive the most energy-savings benefit from the light-blocking film, Consumer Reports recommends installing it on windows that face east or west. It can then prevent heat gain when the sun is shining directly on the windows when it's lower on the horizon. "The west-facing window that I installed this film on usually lets a lot of heat in on a sunny day, but this film has helped keep the room cooler," one Amazon customer said of the Dwersty film.