Are you asking if there is a way to block light from inside your home from going out so that someone standing in the street won't be able to see it (or else at least be dimmer) but you also want to be able to see out normally with no darkening of the outside view?

If that is correct, then no you can't do that, that's not how it works. If you block light going out then you block light coming in.

If I am not understanding what you are asking, then please elaborate.

It's called using shades or drapes at night.

@oberon476 Yes. That's what I am looking for. It will be very challeging to install window shades. Somebody told me there's such tint. I wondered how that can be possible. Guess not.

There is such a thing as one way mirror tint. It's a film you can put on your window glass that can block light at night (people use it on windows in bathrooms). Not sure if it's what you're hoping to achieve during the day, though. Google "mirror tint for windows."

@jkent9024 Does it affect the view from inside during the day?

@oberon476It sounds like it does the opposite of what I need. I need it to block the light emitting from inside to outside.

I don't believe the commonly available tinting materials will do what you want. As said above, at night you would not be able to see out (you would see reflections of your interiors), but everyone outside would be able to see your interiors.

Are there any other tinting materials that will block interior lighting at night. My lighting is deemed too bright at night for the neighborhood. Thanks

It sounds like it does the opposite of what I need. I need it to block the light emitting from inside to outside.

Yep, that was what I was suggesting, that mirror film is not an appropriate product for what you want it to do.

Are there any other tinting materials that will block interior lighting at night.

Yes, but at the cost of lower light transmission values.

example

Homes built on certain Florida beaches have to meet what's know as Turtle Code. Turtle Code limits indoor to outdoor light transmission to a maximum light level of 45% at night visible from the shoreline. Turtle code exists because hatchling sea turtles would see the light from beach homes and they would head toward the homes rather than heading to the water resulting in many thousands of hatchling sea turtle deaths over the years. Scientists discovered that as long as visible light transmittance from inside the homes was below 45%, the turtles wouldn't be attracted to it and they would follow moonlight out to sea as nature intended. So per turtle code, windows facing the water are required to have glass with light transmission values below 45%.

Somewhat like the Turtle code, you want to limit the light in your home from leaving through your windows to the outside at night, and while that's doable, and pretty simple, it does mean that your window glass will need to be darker in order to lower the visible light transmission.

To get a rough idea of what you will be looking for, a single sheet of clear glass transmits about 92% of available light, while a clear glass dual pane has a visible transmittance of about 82%. Adding LowE coatings to clear glass will drop light transmission from 80% using a single silver high solar gain product, down to 40% or lower using a tinted low solar heat gain, low solar glare product.

After market films are much the sameas adding a LowE coating in that films come in a variety of light transmission levels and depending on how much light you want to block there is probably a film that will work for you in that application.

I would suggest that turtle code 45% is a good place to start, so you might go to your local big box store and see if you can get small samples of different light transmission samples that you can look at to see which one might work best for you.

But again keeping in mind that nothing is without some cost and there ain't no free lunches, blocking the bright light means blocking low light too so using a coated or tinted film will affect how you see out at night as well.

@oberon476 THANK YOU! Exactly what I need. I don't need to look out at night. As far as daytime views are not affected, I am good.

Adding a tinted film to your windows is going to make them darker and you will notice the difference between before and after adding the film, probably more in the day time than at night, that is unavoidable.

Whether or not the difference is acceptable comes down to your personal expectations and needs, so make absolutely sure you know what you are getting before you sign the dotted line.

and you are welcome! I hope it helps

Snowcountry, there are "tinted" films that will reduce the VLT (visible light transmission) just like sunglasses. You can get down to the 5% range, which is excessive for your needs, but something in the 20% range will probably do the trick. The 45% turtle film standard is pretty light. A standard screen on a window is usually around 50%.

I would ask the neighborhood for more details on what "too bright" means. You may end up chasing something that will never make them happy. I also recommend working with a window film professional to ensure that your products will be safe for your windows. Many of the darker DIY products absorb a lot of heat into the window, which can cause glass breakage on non-tempered glass. A pro will only recommend products that are safe and covered by a manufacturer's warranty. Happy to help make sure you get the right look!