How to Reduce Your Heating and Cooling Bills
There are many reasons people add window awnings to their home. They may want to protect furniture and carpeting from the damaging effects of sunlight, or simply add curb appeal. One of the most important reasons - that often comes as a pleasant surprise - is reduction in heating and cooling costs. With a little thought and planning you can make your home more comfortable while saving on your energy bills.
During the summer months, window awnings can make the difference between whether a room is useable during the hottest time of day. I have heard from customers time and time again that with awnings on certain windows they now use those rooms more often. Many customers who try interior shades find that while the light in the room is reduced with shades, the heat buildup remains because the sunlight has already penetrated the windows. The addition of awnings provides noticeable relief.
The amount of heat gained through windows and doors can approach forty percent of all heat gain for the typical residence. Awnings can help reduce this. Choosing which windows to cover, amount of the window covered, open sides versus closed sides, and whether awnings are removed for the winter all affect heat gain and cooling costs.
Choosing which windows to cover is probably the most important variable. The University of Minnesota published a study on this. For the study they used two types of houses. One had an equal window orientation and one had the majority of the windows with a westward orientation. In each of the twelve cities studied those homes with the westward orientation had higher savings on their cooling costs than those with equal window orientation. For example, in Boston the energy savings with awnings was 24% with equal window orientation and 30% with mostly westward orientation. It stands to reason since most customers relate concerns of unbearable afternoon sun.
The amount of window covered also is an important consideration. We suggest covering the window halfway with the body of the awning allowing the valence (which is typically 8 inches) to hang below the halfway mark. We find this gives the best mix of coverage, visibility, and aesthetic appeal. An awning made too short will let in too much sunlight and will not give the awning a very full look. Conversely, when an awning is too long, while it will provide even more sun protection, it can be less appealing from the curb and reduce visibility from inside the home.
Many think of open or closed sides as strictly a matter of curb appeal without realizing it also affects cooling. You will want to balance the amount of light a room needs versus the protection gained. In many cases, a customer chooses open sides when a room does not have an abundance of natural sunlight. The orientation of your home is also a factor. You may want to determine the angle the sun hits your window from before you decide.
Should you remove awnings for the winter? That will depend on where you live. The heat gain we want to reduce during the summer we actually do not want to reduce during the winter. Typically in the northern parts of the country customers will remove their awnings for the winter. In warmer areas of the south it may make more sense to leave them up year-round.
|
