How Window Awnings Help You Save Energy

A hundred years ago, window awnings were common on hotels, office buildings, and the grandest of houses, for a very good reason: they shaded the window and kept the heat of the sun out. There is nothing complicated about window awnings; the principle is really quite simple – shade keeps things cooler.

The energy savings from using window awnings are significant. And today most awnings are retractable, which means you can allow the sun in during the winter months when you welcome the sun’s warmth in your home.

Retractable window Awnings save energy by reducing direct solar heat gain through windows. Heat gain through windows and sliding glass doors is the primary reason your home gets so hot in the summer. You can reduce your need for air conditioning if you install window awnings to block the sun coming in through the glass in your home. Your house is simply cooler without the sunlight pouring in – some sources say that your house will be anywhere from 8 to 15 degrees cooler.

According to James Dulley, a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist who writes about ways to save energy, “Awnings are very effective for blocking the sun’s heat from coming in through your windows and doors. Not only will your air-conditioning costs be lower, but your carpeting, drapes and furniture will fade less.”

The strongest rays of the day occur between 10 AM and 4 PM. As more people use awnings, the overall energy use of a community is decreased. This saves the utility companies money; which in turn means savings for consumers.

Window awnings fell out of favor when the preferred method of dealing with too much solar energy became the application of electrical energy through air conditioning. But what about today, when air conditioning is costly and long lasting mechanical awnings are available? The Professional Awning Manufacturers Association funded a study covering cities such as Minneapolis, Boston, Seattle, Albuquerque, and Phoenix. It found that window awnings can reduce household cooling energy by as much as 26 percent in hot climates, and 33 percent in cold climates.

Awnings used to be high-maintenance item, according to Andy Stone, president of Craft-Bilt Manufacturing Company in Souderton PA, where Aristocrat Retractable Window Awnings are made. “It probably took quite a few workers to put them up every spring on some of the bigger installations. But with the lateral arm retractable awnings manufactured today, there are no removal or storage costs. The awning retracts up flat against the house, and there are no unsightly poles to look at.”




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