"Have had a lot of compliments on the awning. It really dresses up a plain building. Keeps it much cooler."
 The benefits of awnings go far beyond aesthetic appeal. Awnings can enhance the look of an ordinary home or business through adding shape, dimension and color. They offer energy saving benefits as well as protect furniture, floors and carpets from fading caused by harsh sunrays.
You can actually feel the energy saving benefits. In a typical home, more energy is lost through glass doors and windows than through any other construction element. In fact, on a hot day, more energy comes through one square foot of glass than through an entire insulated wall. Solar radiation through glass is responsible for approximately 20 percent of the loan on an air conditioner.
Window films and lightly tinted glass effectively reduce heat gain, as well as glare. Properly designed awnings accomplish the same purpose and substantially increase energy saved over the film and tinted glass alternatives. In studies by the American Society of Heating and Air conditioning engineers, during the period of the day when the sun shines directly on southern facing windows, a fabric awning reduces heat gain by 55 to 65 percent. For western exposure, the reduction in heat gain is 72 to 77 percent.
If you are considering an addition to your home, a canopy over your deck or patio offers a long-term solution to needed space at a lower cost. Your deck will be shaded from the hot sun rays as well as provide outdoor protection during a rainy day for your entire family.
Style-
It’s important to select a style that will accommodate how much the sun penetrates the windows. For northern and southern exposure, sides may need to be added to the awnings for additional protection for eastern and western facing windows, less protection is necessary. Seasons will also make a difference. In order to take advantage of the suns warmth, some awnings are designed to roll up and out of he way. Further, frames can be designed to accommodate casement windows.
Venting-
The awning design creates more air circulation to dissipate heat build up. Select a shape that best suits the windows being protected, as well as the orientation of the windows.
Color-
When Choosing an Awning with a low head clearance, (for instance on a patio umbrella), remember that lighter colors do not trap heat as much as dark colors do.
* Copyright Awning Division of Industrial Fabrics Association International. |
