What Are Smart Glass Windows?

Smart glass windows use technologies such as electrochromic, thermochromic, or photochromic materials to change transparency levels. These adaptive features offer dynamic control over light and heat, making them an ideal choice for modern spaces.

Benefits of Smart Glass Technology

1. Energy Efficiency: Smart glass can block heat on sunny days, reducing the need for air conditioning.
2. Enhanced Privacy: Switch from transparent to opaque for instant privacy.
3. Improved Comfort: Reduce glare and UV exposure without sacrificing natural light.

Applications in Homes and Vehicles

• Homes: Replace traditional curtains or blinds with smart glass for sleek, automated light control.
• Vehicles: Minimize glare for drivers and passengers while maintaining a comfortable cabin temperature.

Smart glass windows represent the future of energy-efficient, adaptable design. Whether you’re upgrading your home or vehicle, this technology delivers comfort, convenience, and sustainability—all at the flip of a switch.

How AZ’s Extreme Heat Affects Glass

When exposed to extreme temperatures, glass can expand and contract, leading to stress and, ultimately, cracking. Arizona’s climate, with summer temperatures often exceeding 110°F, amplifies this risk. Car windshields, which experience additional strain from direct sunlight, are especially vulnerable.

Why Heat-Resistant Glass Matters

Heat-resistant glass, such as tempered or laminated glass, is specifically designed to endure temperature fluctuations. These materials undergo specialized treatments to improve their strength and resilience.

Key Benefits of Heat-Resistant Glass:

1. Improved Longevity: Withstand extreme conditions without cracking.
2. Energy Efficiency: Reflect heat to reduce indoor temperatures and lower energy costs.
3. Enhanced Safety: Breaks into less hazardous pieces when shattered.

Protecting Your Glass Investments

For vehicle owners, parking in shaded areas and applying UV protection films can prevent glass damage. Homeowners and businesses should consider upgrading to energy-efficient, heat-resistant windows to protect against Arizona’s relentless heat.

With the right materials and care, your glass can withstand the heat, keeping you cool and safe all year long. Contact AGD today to learn about heat-resistant glass options for your vehicle, home, or office.

Benefits of Anti-Theft Window Film for Commercial Properties

1. Enhanced Security Against Break-Ins
   • Anti-theft window film strengthens the glass, making it more difficult to break. Even if the glass shatters, the film holds the fragments together, deterring intruders.
   • Tip: Use films rated for high impact to maximize security.
2. UV Protection
   • Many anti-theft films block up to 99% of harmful UV rays, protecting your interiors and merchandise from fading.
   • Tip: Choose dual-purpose films that combine security and UV protection for added value.
3. Energy Efficiency
   • Certain window films reduce heat transfer, lowering cooling costs during hot Arizona summers.
   • Tip: Opt for films with energy-efficient properties to save on utility bills.
4. Privacy and Aesthetic Appeal
   • Tinted or reflective films not only provide added privacy but also improve the exterior appearance of your property.
   • Tip: Select films with finishes that complement your building’s design.

Best Window Film Options for Optimal Protection

1. Clear Security Film
   • Ideal for maintaining visibility while increasing glass strength. Clear films are a great option for storefronts or office windows.
2. Tinted or Reflective Film
   • These films offer additional privacy and UV protection while enhancing security. Perfect for businesses that require discretion, like banks or clinics.
3. Bullet-Resistant Film
   • For high-risk areas, bullet-resistant films provide extra protection against violent intrusions, ensuring safety for employees and customers.

Commercial Window Film Installation Tips

• Hire Professionals: Proper installation is key to ensuring maximum effectiveness and longevity of the film.
• Assess Your Needs: Work with a security expert to determine which type of film best suits your property and risk level.

Investing in anti-theft window film is a proactive way to protect your business. With added benefits like UV protection and energy efficiency, it’s a smart choice for commercial property owners looking to enhance security and create a safer environment. Contact AGD today to learn more about how anti-theft window film can benefit your commercial property.

Benefits of Ceramic Tinting for Luxury Vehicles

1. Ceramic Tinting Provides Unmatched UV and Heat Protection

Ceramic tinting excels in blocking up to 99% of harmful UV rays, protecting your vehicle’s interior from fading, cracking, and discoloration. Additionally, it reduces significant heat transfer, ensuring that the cabin remains cool and comfortable even in extreme conditions like Arizona’s desert heat.

• • • • Why it matters: Luxury cars often feature premium leather and materials that can degrade under intense sunlight. Ceramic window tint preserves the interior’s pristine condition.

2. Crystal-Clear Auto Glass Visibility

Unlike traditional tints, ceramic tinting doesn’t compromise visibility. It reduces glare while maintaining clear views, which is especially important for drivers who value both safety and aesthetics.

• Pro tip: High-quality ceramic tints ensure nighttime clarity, a crucial feature for safety-conscious luxury car owners.

3. Elegant Appearance and Durability

Ceramic tints enhance the sleek appearance of luxury vehicles with their non-reflective finish. Unlike dyed or metallic tints, ceramic films don’t fade over time, ensuring a long-lasting, refined look.

• Bonus benefit: These tints don’t interfere with GPS, Bluetooth, or other electronic signals, a common concern for tech-integrated luxury cars.

Whether you’re protecting your investment or simply upgrading your ride’s style and comfort, ceramic tinting is the superior choice for luxury vehicles. Contact AGD today to learn more about how to protect and enhance your luxury vehicle with ceramic tint.

Driving during the Holiday Season can get stressful and more difficult for those on the road. Some of the more common acts such as speeding and texting while driving are always just known to be avoided.  Because Safety is such an important factor, AGD Auto Glass & Tint Co has put together a list of thanksgiving driving tips for those things that we don’t do on a regular basis.  Things we need to remember when going on a road trip, especially during the holidays.

**Make sure your vehicle is operating properly by getting the tires, lights, oil, belts, hoses and brake fluid checked prior to leaving for your destination.

**Map out your destination days prior to leaving. Check the news stations and weather to make sure your road ahead is clear from winter weather or accidents. Regardless of whether you have a GPS, we recommend that you also have a paper map in the vehicle at all times, just in case.

**Don’t Speed. Follow the speed limits when roads are clear, and don’t cut people off while driving in traffic.  If you have an aggressive driver on your back, just let them go and hold back from provoking them in any way.

**Make sure you have a good night’s sleep the night prior to departing.  In addition, if driving very long distances, make sure to take breaks every few hours or so. 

**Always be prepared in case of an emergency.  Keep boots, a blanket, jumper cables, air pressure gauge and a flashlight in your trunk.  It is also wise to keep the gas tank at least half full at all times. especially when driving through winter weather.

**This might sound simple but always remember to lock and secure your home before you leave.  Turn your home lights on with timers so people don’t know you are out of town for long periods of time.  If possible, have a neighbor check on the house frequently, just to make sure everything is safe guarded.

Lastly, and most importantly, relax.  Driving during the holiday season is always stressful, which could leave you frustrated and apt to making poor driving decision.  With the right mind set and a little bit of pre-planning, the drive can be an enjoyable time for many.

We know it can be stressful imagining the miles that lay between you & your final destination, therefore a couple of deep breaths once in a while along with a positive attitude can go a long way. Remember to relax and focus on what’s truly important: reaching your destination safely and having fun with friends and family.

Should you happen to encounter a rock, gravel or chip while on the family road trip, remember you left us back at home.  As long as you have comprehensive insurance coverage on your Arizona policy, AGD Auto Glass & Tint Co. can fix your broken windshield the day you get back from your trip, and at no cost to you.  Just in case, keep our number handy, you might need to give us a call one of these days.

AGD Auto Glass & Tint Co. 

3414 S Mill Ave | Tempe, AZ 85282 | 602-759-5900 | Website

find us on..         

Central: 602-759-5900
East Valley: 480-289-5108
West Valley: 602-275-5066

Windshield Repair/Replacement Services, Auto glass Film, Car Wraps & More Serving the valley as well as the entire state of Arizona. 

Click Below to get your free quote..

Hollow-cheeked skeletons; warty-nosed witches; werewolves with blood-stained muzzles and vampires with swishing black capes.

Halloween wears many disguises, each more terrifying than the last – but why do we dress up on Halloween? Why do we carve pumpkins and accept candy from strangers? Many of the traditions we embrace on this spooky holiday come from surprising sources. Let’s take a look at a few of them now.

Jack-o-lanterns

If Halloween could be summed up in just one image it would be the jack-o-lantern. Can you imagine Halloween without jack-o-lanterns grinning at you from every porch you pass? I can’t!

I love the hunt for the perfect pumpkin… stomping through the fields as we compare size and color, imagining all the fun we’ll have stabbing it and ripping its guts out… then the fun of choosing just the right face to adorn it with; something a little sinister and a little jolly.

We all love the Halloween tradition of carving jack-o-lanterns – but do you know where the tradition comes from? Well, rumor has it that the ancient Celts carved faces into vegetables like turnips and beets to ward off witches and evil spirits (though some now debate the validity of that claim.)

The name ”jack-o-lantern” comes from an old Irish tale of a man called ”Stingy Jack” who made the mistake of trying to trick the Devil. You can read a full account of the story here.

Dressing Up

Modern Halloween costumes range from super scary to super sexy – but what were the first Halloween costumes like and where did the tradition begin?

The earliest Halloween costumes were designed to frighten, not entice. It was believed (and still is by modern pagans!) that the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead was thinnest on Halloween. On that one night of the year, the dead could go for a wander.

Chances were, if you had to go out on Halloween night, you might just bump into a wandering spirit – which is where the Halloween costume originated. Ancient people took to hiding behind horrible guises in the hopes that any ghost they passed would think they were just a fellow spook.

Trick-or-treating

No Halloween night would be complete without a trip around the neighborhood, spooking neighbors and strangers alike into forking over handfuls of candy and chocolate bars. This behavior goes against everything our parents ever taught us about safety; every other day of the year accepting candy from strangers is a no-no – so why is it okay on Halloween?

The earliest trick-or-treaters were called ”soulers”. They were children and poor adults who went from home to home, asking for food in exchange for a prayer for the dead.

Strangely, an alternative version of trick-or-treating saw it as a Christmas tradition, in which local children would visit their neighbors in disguise and earn treats if no one could identify them.

So… this year, when you paint your face a ghoulish green and head out for a night of pranks and parties, past leering jack-o-lanterns and laughing children, spare a thought for the ancient traditions that led to the frightful fun that is our modern Halloween.

Always remember to stay safe on Halloween, especially while driving.  But more importantly, embrace the holiday, the season and the family and friends you have this year to spend it with.

AGD Auto Glass & Tint Co. 

3414 S Mill Ave | Tempe, AZ 85282 | 602-759-5900 | Website

find us on..         

Central: 602-759-5900
East Valley: 480-289-5108
West Valley: 602-275-5066

Windshield Repair/Replacement Services, Auto glass Film, Car Wraps & More Serving the valley as well as the entire state of Arizona. 

Click Below to get your free quote..