Saving Energy and Money with a Retractable Awning

Most households and businesses in Europe already use awnings for energy conservation. And in the United States, people are discovering this as well because  awning sales are growing rapidly. A retractable awning is the perfect choice for protection from the sun for better enjoyment of your home and saving money from  energy-savings.

According to a study conducted by the Center for Sustainable Building Research, roughly 20% of Air Conditioning bills come from the heat caused by sun radiating through glass doors and windows - reducing this "heat gain" will reduce energy use. The study also finds that Sunbrella awning materials can reduce the heat gain up to 60% on southern exposed windows and up to 77% on western exposed windows and doors.

Retractable awnings, due to their retract-ability also help you capitalize on the heat gain in the Winter. This solar heat from the sun helps to heat our homes. The awning retracts and allows us to get solar gain during the winter months. The awning provides the flexibility required to take advantage of the various seasons.

Many brands offer Sunbrella awning fabrics on their retractable awning models. Sunsetter offers its own version of acrylic awning fabrics similar to Sunbrella. NuImage, Eclipse, and Alutex all use Sunbrella awning fabrics.


Read the full study about Energy Savings and Awnings

References
1. "Awnings in Residential Buildings - The impact on Energy Use and Peak Demand" by John Carmody and Kerry Haglund, Center for Sustainable Building Research, University of Minnesota and Yu Joe Huang, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, August 2007
2. The Professional Awning Manufacturers Association websites, Roseville, Minnesota, February 2008.