| Cutting back on energy use is an admirable goal, but | | | | where most of the windows face, the region, and local |
| it's difficult to not use air conditioning in humid summer | | | | energy costs. Sunnier homes - with western-facing |
| heat or to keep blinds drawn (blocking your view) - on | | | | windows or in long sunny seasons - showed a marked |
| sunny spring days and all for a very minimal affect on | | | | improvement, though every home cut cooling energy |
| actual energy costs. | | | | use: |
| Going green is an important consideration for | | | | • Sacramento and Seattle by over 60% |
| homeowners (according to the Professional Awning | | | | • Minneapolis and Boston around 33% |
| Manufacturers Association, that's important to 75% of | | | | • Washington, DC and Houston around 15% |
| homeowners) - but there are so many other | | | | The actual dollar amount that translates to can equal |
| maintenance demands on home budgets that going | | | | even more than the percentage sounds; for example, |
| green needs to be a little bit easier. That's the | | | | Phoenix homes cut air conditioning use by 25% by |
| advantage of retractable awnings; they're an easy first | | | | using awnings but realized savings totaling almost |
| step towards efficiency: | | | | $250. |
| • Lower the need for air conditioning, so you | | | | One significant finding in the PAMA study: the benefits |
| can lower usage without discomfort | | | | of using an awning are only in the summer. Year-round |
| • Don't require a hefty financial investment, | | | | awnings increase heating expenses, and that can |
| remodeling time, or difficulty | | | | actually raise annual bills. For example, houses in |
| • Are an attractive enhancement to a home | | | | Atlanta with east-facing windows saved a moderate |
| • Have simple installation, low maintenance, | | | | $50 per summer on electric bills - but lost $7 over the |
| and long lifetime | | | | entire year. In Boston, the decline in cooling energy |
| The largest expense in a home or business is | | | | usage had a minor affect on air conditioning expenses |
| controlling the temperature, so basic energy | | | | ($1), but cost $65 because of increased heating |
| sustainability projects begin with maintaining home or | | | | expenses. |
| business temperatures efficiently. Almost half of the | | | | That's why true energy efficiency comes through |
| heat that builds up in a home or business comes from | | | | installing a retractable awning. |
| sunlight. You may think that using blinds and shades to | | | | While air conditioning expenses are a significant |
| block a lot of sunlight is enough to block the heat | | | | amount of electricity usage, heating expenses account |
| energy, but according to Louisiana-based Claiborne | | | | for almost half of all energy used in a home. Any |
| Electric Cooperative, blinds only block the light from the | | | | efficiency solution that improves air conditioning. |
| sun. Once the energy reaches the window, the heat | | | | Retractable awnings do that: they can remain |
| enters the room regardless of light, so the blinds don't | | | | extended throughout the entire summer season, for |
| lower real air conditioning use. | | | | the maximum reduction in air conditioning expenses. As |
| Retractable awnings actually block solar energy from | | | | fall and winter set in, they can be retracted, so solar |
| reaching the window, so it never enters the house. | | | | heat enters and naturally warms the house, keeping |
| That's a much more effective way of controlling air | | | | heating expenses down. By staying open permanently, |
| conditioning use; in fact, retractable awnings can cut | | | | fixed awnings cut sunlight in winter months, significantly |
| the heat buildup in a room between 65% and 77%, | | | | increase heating costs, and cancel out any summer |
| according to the US Department of Energy. | | | | utility bill savings. |
| So what effect does cutting down the solar heat in a | | | | In the Northeast, where energy prices are a big |
| room have on energy bills? In broad terms, it cuts air | | | | concern, the New Hampshire utilities system |
| conditioning use around 25% and saves $100 on | | | | recommends integrating retractable awnings with your |
| annual electric bills. The Professional Awning | | | | landscaping to increase energy efficiency. Other |
| Manufacturers Association (PAMA) commissioned a | | | | features - easy care, easy use, long lifetime (over 25 |
| study covering twelve major cities across the United | | | | years, instead of about 5 years), and diverse solution |
| States, factoring in the window orientation (west, south, | | | | dyed acrylic fabric selections - make retractable |
| east, or equal), whether the awning was installed | | | | awnings an appealing energy efficiency option. The |
| year-round or only in Summer, the type of glass | | | | reason for retractable awnings increasing popularity in |
| (normal or solar-reflective), and how long the Summer | | | | America - and their immense popularity in Europe - is |
| seasons are. | | | | because they provide a simple, relatively inexpensive, |
| The effect of awnings varies widely depending on | | | | and attractive method to control energy use. |