Important Reasons to Consider Awnings For Your Home or Business
Keeping Down the Cost of Cooling In Summer
Block the sun.
Take defensive action against the blistering sun that beams through the windows of your home. About 40 percent of the unwanted heat that builds up in a home comes through windows, according to the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network, an arm of the U.S. Department of Energy.
Awnings can cut two-thirds of the heat gain on south-facing windows, and more than three-quarters on eastern exposures. The Department of Energy recommends light-colored awnings because they also reflect sunlight.
Those concerned about blocked views can consider retractable awnings, which can be activated at the push of a button when the sun comes in.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer
July 14, 2002 (reprinted from the SanAntonio Express-News)