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Can Energy Efficient Windows Melt a Car? Is This a Violation Against Quiet Enjoyment?

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Real Estate Agent with Garrigus Real Estate 01844441

Can Energy Efficient Windows Melt a Car? Is This a Violation Against Quiet Enjoyment?

 

I found an article on Yahoo this morning when I started up my web browser entitled Woman Claims Energy Efficient Windows are Melting Her Toyota Prius. It's an interesting story.

Car Melts from Energy Efficient WindowA Southern California woman claims her neighbor's energy efficient window is reflecting a concentrated amount of sunlight onto her car, which is parked in her own carport. The mirrors and anything plastic on the car is melting as if they were in a slow cooking oven.

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A closer look, armed with a thermometer, shows that the temperatures from the energy efficient windows and reflected sunlight shows temperatures in excess of 120 degrees Fahrenheit, in less than five minutes on a cloudy day!

Apparently reports about energy efficient windows and their concentrated reflected sunlight are popping up across the entire country, and the National Association of Home Builders are even conducting their own study on the issue.

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But the Los Angeles City Department of Building and Safely says that even if the window is the source of the damage on the car, that nothing can be done because it's not illegal to install energy efficient windows in a home. I agree that the installation may not be illegal, but could it be a violation of quiet enjoyment for the woman who's car is melting due to the window?

Yes, she possibly could park her car somewhere else, but this takes away from the use of her carport, unless she wants to bake pottery in it.

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Quiet enjoyment, according to LegalDefinitions.co, is "The right of a property owner or tenant to enjoy his or her property without interference. Disruption of quiet enjoyment may constitute a nuisance."

The Neighbor's energy efficient window may not be illegal, or violate and codes, but the woman with the melting car could take legal actions against her neighbor anyway.

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Posted by

Todd & Devona Garrigus

Broker / REALTORS®

951.490.3698 | Direct for Todd
951.490.3683 | Direct for Devona

www.GarrigusRealEstate.net
CalBRE# 01844442/01844441

Curtis Van Carter
Better Homes & Gardens Wine Country Group - Yountville, CA
Your Napa Valley Broker Extraordinaire

Devona

Thanks for posting this, it is the first I heard this. It is a very interesting story and may even impact car buyers decisions. cheers cvc

Jan 26, 2012 04:39 AM
Todd & Devona Garrigus
Garrigus Real Estate - Beaumont, CA
Broker / REALTORS®

Curtis,

I respectfully disagree. This article is about the reflective power of energy efficient windows, not what cars people buy.

Jan 26, 2012 04:59 AM
Brett Reichel
Homebridge Financial Services - Rancho Cucamonga, CA
MLO 210215

Devona,

Thanks for the post - very interesting.  It reminds me of one of the newer hotels in Las Vegas having the problem of the reflected sun melting their lounge chairs.

Brett

Jan 26, 2012 07:40 AM
Devona Garrigus
Garrigus Real Estate - Redlands, CA
REALTOR® / Short Sale Specialist

Brett,

I hadn't heard that story. I guess it's happening more than I knew. Thanks for your comment.

Jan 26, 2012 07:44 AM
Todd & Devona Garrigus
Garrigus Real Estate - Beaumont, CA
Broker / REALTORS®

If a neighbor's dog scratched on my car door repeatedly, the damage would be the responsibility of the dog owner. I think the same could be the same for the neighbor with the energy efficient window.

Jan 26, 2012 11:07 AM