In Australia, car heat protection is crucial. We’ve all returned to our cars on a sunny day and experienced the burning seats and scorching steering wheel, waiting far too long for the air to cool. Besides being incredibly uncomfortable, it can also be dangerous. Today, we want to talk about why our car interior temperature heats up so quickly, and steps we can take to avoid it.
Shortwave radiation from the sun passes easily through car windows. Once it’s in a vehicle, it’s absorbed by the seats, interior, and dashboard. Then, it begins to get super-hot because the energy is re-released into the car as longwave (infrared) radiation. Unlike short wave, infrared can’t escape through glass quite so easily, which is why it becomes trapped in the car. Studies show that a car’s interior temperature can rise by an astonishing 22°C within an hour on a relatively mild day. These temperatures are dangerous, so the value of UV protection car shades should never be underestimated.
Let’s dive deeper. Sunlight is made up of various wavelengths, and each can significantly impact heat build-up in cars. Here is a brief overview of solar radiation and wavelength behaviour.
UV can be very damaging. It not only causes harm to our skin, but it also contributes to the degradation of plastics, adhesives, and fabrics, and the fading of a car’s interior. It isn’t the largest contributor to heat, but it’s worth blocking with UV protection car shades.
This carries energy that heats a surface after absorption, which we’ve all felt on the steering wheel once or twice.
Infrared is the most significant contributor to temperature rise. It is directly responsible for when our cars feel like an oven. Thankfully, heat-reducing car window shades can be a massive help.
Many car window shades rely on vague claims. However, Snap Shades uses ARPANSA (Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency) tested materials.
According to ARPANSA testing, this is what the material used by Snap Shades does:
Visible light and UV contribute to solar heat gain inside the cabin of a vehicle. When it enters through side windows, it is absorbed and re-radiated as infrared heat. By using UV protection car shades to reduce them both, it limits the amount of solar energy absorbed, thus cooling the cabin.
To put it into practical terms:
Lower solar input = slower heat rise and lower peak cabin temperatures.
An 84% UV reduction means less solar energy is getting into the cabin, which means less is re-radiated into infrared.
If you buy any old car sun shades for your vehicle, it is most likely that they won’t cover the entire surface area of the window. Snap Shapes vehicle-specific designs give you full window coverage and a tighter edge-to-edge fit. They are also made using ARPANSA-tested fabric, so you know it’s going to do the job. Additionally, they are extremely effective while driving, unlike other models, and with passive heat reduction technology, you’ll need to crank up the AC far less. The key to effective car heat protection is covering every possible entry point.
Though the precise measurements depend on the weather and vehicle, Snap Shades car sun shades are backed by physics. Their science-backed benefits include lower heat load in the cabin, improved thermal comfort for children and pets, reduced surface temperature spikes, less strain on air conditioning systems, and interior preservation. Snap Shades’ focus is on reducing heat gain and not making untested promises.
It’s crucial to be honest and realistic about what UV protection car shades can achieve. Of course, they don’t eliminate heat entirely, but they do reduce the rate and intensity of build-up. To keep your car at an optimum temperature, it’s worth using them along with ventilation and air conditioning. Sun shades work best when part of a broader strategy that involves wise parking decisions, sensible ventilation habits, and investing in some window tint for your car.
Car heat build-up isn’t only uncomfortable; it can be very dangerous for kids and pets. Remember, this isn’t an opinion; it is backed by physics. Every time sunlight enters a vehicle, heat accumulates. This is why blocking the radiation is essential. With the right car heat protection, everyone can travel safely and comfortably.
By blocking radiation before it reaches your car’s interior surfaces, you are aiding passive cooling. ARPSANA-tested materials, like those used by Snap Shades, provide immense UV and visible light protection, significantly reducing solar heat gain while slowing temperature rise.
However, it is important to note that custom-fit UV protection car shades are just part of the battle. To ensure your car remains cool, comfortable, safe, and undamaged during hot weather, you should also choose shaded areas to park, along with using AC and ventilation. By combining these steps, you’re in for plenty of comfortable, safe, and relaxing journeys.
Car interior temperature rises because sunlight passes through windows as shortwave radiation, heats up seats and dashboards, and becomes trapped as longwave heat. This greenhouse effect can raise cabin temperatures dramatically within minutes, even on mild days.
Yes. Car sun shades block a portion of the sun’s radiation before it reaches interior surfaces, lowering the amount of solar energy entering through the glass, which helps reduce heat build-up.
Window tint is a permanent film applied to glass, designed to filter UV, reduce glare, and improve privacy. Car sun shades are removable barriers that physically block additional sunlight. Many drivers use both together.
UV protection car shades can block a large percentage of ultraviolet radiation, helping protect passengers and slow the fading of seats and dashboards. Because UV contributes to both heat and material damage, these shades support long-term interior preservation.
A combination works best: parking in shade, using car sun shades, covering the windscreen, ventilating safely, and using quality window tint. Blocking sunlight before it hits interior surfaces is key.
Yes. Reducing heat gain while driving lowers the demand on air conditioning and improves comfort, particularly for children and pets seated in the back.
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