Awnings are a fantastic way to upgrade your home’s exterior. They offer both the convenience of outdoor shade and protection from unwelcome solar heat.
We recommend a retractable awning for even more versatility, which can be either manual or motorized.
Awnings & Energy Efficiency
Awnings are perfect for keeping windows shielded or covering a patio or deck. These versatile structures come in fixed or retractable awning styles. The retractable awnings can be either motorized or manual.
According to energy.gov, “Window awnings can reduce solar heat gain in the summer by up to 65% on south-facing windows and 77% on west-facing windows. You can use an awning to shade one window or have an awning custom-made to shade the entire side of your house.”
Awnings have come a long way over the decades. You no longer need to worry about recovering your awning every few years. Modern awnings are built using fabrics like acrylic and polyvinyl laminates that withstand water, mildew and also fading.
These improvements provide your home with sustained protection from the sun’s rays throughout the seasons. To ensure maximum efficiency without sacrificing style, look for an opaque fabric with tightly woven threads. This allows more daylight to be reflected rather than absorbed!
How To Improve Energy Efficiency Further
You want avoid the buildup of warm air around your window. Make sure to install an awning with grommets or other openings along its top and sides. These small eyelets will ensure that hot air can be released away from the window space. The additional side or top opening mechanisms on some models guarantee maximum ventilation.
When choosing whether to adopt awnings, factor in their energy-saving properties during the summer and potential for increasing heat loss from your property in winter. You can tailor the use of existing awning structures depending on the season. You can close them up over warmer months acting like shade umbrellas. Then, you can dismantle or open it when temps drop so that beneficial lower angle sunlight is able to better reach windows.
Whether you get a manual awning or a retractable awning, the efficient use of energy can be significant. Plus, you will save money on your utility bills.
Alpharetta Awnings is always here to help. Whether you simply have a few questions or have already picked out an awning you like, give us a call.
Give us a call at 678-921-3474 for a free quote today!
