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CA Energy Study
California Energy Commission
Reduce the Temperature Indoors by as Much as 20°F on a Hot Day
In good weather and bad, windows let you enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors without leaving the comfort of your easy chair. Through the windows of your home, you can watch your children at play, observe a hummingbird fluttering next to a feeder, and even admire the power of lightning and the colors of a rainbow on a stormy day.
There’s much more to windows, though, than what meets the eye. Today’s windows may have high-tech coatings or contain inert (harmless) gasses between multiple panes of glass, both of which increase the insulation value of your windows. In the wintertime, they let in sunshine to brighten and warm your home. When summer arrives, they keep a significant amount of heat from coming inside.
In fact, all year long your new, energy efficient windows keep you more comfortable and help to keep your heating and cooling costs down. It’s important to keep in mind that even though today’s windows are more energy efficient, they’re still one of the largest sources of heat loss and heat gain in your house. You can, however, add to the efficiency of your windows and keep your home cool, simply by making the right shading and window-covering choices.
Block the Sun Before it Enters Your Home
Shading the outside of your home should be your first line of defense against summertime heat. In fact, shading your home with well-placed trees, shrubs and vine-covered trellises, or wide overhangs, such as patio covers, can reduce the temperature indoors by as much as 20° Fahrenheit on a hot day! Here are a few outdoor shading strategies to consider.
Solar Screens
Solar Screens resemble standard window screens; however, they can block up to 85% of the sun’s rays from entering your home. Not only that, but they cut glare and allow air to flow into your home. But the benefits of solar screens don’t stop there. They also help reduce fading of your furniture, drapes and carpeting commonly caused by the sun’s rays; they increase your privacy; and they can be made to fit any window opening, including arches and circles.
Retractable Awnings
Awnings are back in fashion, especially retractable awnings. They block direct sunlight and can reduce heat gain in your home up to 77%. They cut glare and help eliminate faded upholstery, drapes and carpet. They can increase the value of your home, reduce your air conditioning and heating costs, and they operate with just the push of a button, making it easy for you to retract them to let the sun inside on cold winter days.
Tip: Light-colored awnings reflect the most sunlight.
Patio Awning Covers
Patio Awning Covers are a terrific addition to your home and yard. They provide shade to keep you cooler when you sit outside in the summertime, and at the same time they prevent unwanted sunlight and heat from entering your house. Like retractable awnings, they help eliminate faded upholstery, carpets and drapes, and have the added benefit of increasing the value of your home.
It’s good to keep in mind that patio covers are permanent — they may block the sun during every season of the year, including winter when the sun’s warmth helps to heat your home. If you build a patio cover, check out a variety of plans and consider constructing one that will allow you to take advantage of the wintertime sun.
To keep your home as cool as possible during the summer, close your blinds to keep the sun’s heat outside. During the winter, open the blinds and let the sun shine in; on cloudy days and at night, close blinds to keep the warmth inside. For ways to shade your windows with landscaping, see the fact sheet Landscape now … and save energy the natural way.
Cover the Inside of Your Windows for an Additional Line of Defense!
Drapes, curtains and blinds are not as effective as exterior shading, but they do provide a small measure of heat resistance when the sun beats directly on your windows. However, when you combine interior with exterior shading, you’ll have an extra layer of protection and even more comfort.
Drapes and curtains made from tightly woven, light colored, opaque fabrics reflect much of the sun’s rays. Keep in mind when you hang drapes or curtains that the closer they fit against the wall around the window, the better they will prevent heat gain or loss. Another strategy is to hang two layers of drapes, which will offer you better insulation in either hot weather or cold.
Venetian or mini blinds are not as effective as drapes, but they can be adjusted to let in some light and air while reflecting the sun’s heat. Like drapes and curtains, light colored blinds are the most effective. Following some of these energy saving suggestions can help to keep your home comfortable in all seasons, as well as giving you lower utility bills year round.
California Energy Commission
For more information, contact the Energy Commission toll-free at 1-800-772-3300 or visit our website: www.energy.ca.gov/efficiency
Energy Efficiency Division 1516 9th Street, MS-25 Sacramento, CA 95814-5512
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Our Products
Elite
The Elite Retractable Awning is built using the highest quality materials and engineered for versatility, durability and elegance.
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Elite Cassette II Retractable Patio Awning
The Elite Cassette II Retractable Patio Awning provides a unique system featuring the added benefit of a protective fabric enclosure.
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Uni-Lux
The Uni-Lux, our mid-level retractable awning, is ideal for the cost-conscious customer and doesn’t compromise on quality.
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Econo-Lux
The Econo-Lux offers a “ready-made” solution for those in need of a quality exterior shading system that’s also economical.
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Robusta
The Robusta, our Retractable Window Awning, can cover all or part of your window to provide unparalleled shade and privacy.
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Riviera
The Riviera is an economical yet classic stationary awning in the traditional sense of taste and style and our most popular fixed awning that is simple and cost effective.
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Spear & Decorative
The Spear and Decorative awnings, inspired by a combination of French and Italian themes enhance the appearance of both classic and contemporary homes.
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Dome
The Dome style awning can be customized to match various architectural contours such as rounded windows or recessed arches.
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Orleans
The Orleans style awning, reminiscent of the fixed awnings in the city of New Orleans, offers instant curb appeal to an otherwise simple door or window.
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Sun-Pro
The Sun-Pro is the company’s heavy-duty drop shade system built for larger openings such as sliding doors, stucco overhangs, entrance ways or any opening in which the tracks can be mounted vertically.
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Sun-Pro Jr.
The Sun-Pro Jr. is our smaller version of the original Sun-Pro system perfect for openings up to 10 feet wide and 10 feet high.
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Patio-Pro
Since 1979, the Patio-Pro drop shade remains the most popular exterior rolling shade we offer and perfect for openings that need a versatile track system.
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