“Awnings: a simple cooling tech we apparently forgot about” 🪟
“Awnings: a simple cooling tech we apparently forgot about” 🪟
This video by Technology Connections talks about how window awnings can greatly help cool your home.
Another thing I want to add is that window awnings can protect windows. We get pretty big hail here, and (wood or aluminum) awnings can save your window glass. I have also heard of “Clamshell Awnings” which are on hinges, so you can remove the poles and lower the awning to cover and protect windows in extreme weather.
Lastly, here are some old window awning ads for your entertainment (from Wikimedia commons)
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I’m really convinced that the whole world decided one day that air conditioning was magic and gave up on everything else.
Awnings are orders of magnitude more expensive than blinds, and blinds are expensive enough. There isn't an off the shelf design that will work for every house so you need to be able to customize them. Awnings tend to look shabby in 5 years and need regular maintenance to keep from being overrun by spiders.
I'm a marine fabricator and make awnings.
is that to have someone install it for you as well, or just the awning itself? I've been thinking about welding up some aluminum slat awnings because the materials should be affordable for making it myself, but I have yet to research if any particular calculations are needed for the sunlight angle or anything else. Based on other home alterations I assume getting someone else to do it would be expensive.
If you weren't being stolen from en masse then we could easily afford another job structure for all the windows in our own houses. Not to mention maintenance, replacement, etc. AC popularity is literally theft. Back in the early 50's there were AC's that just worked forever. Now they all break and require a resale of new parts and whole units in years. I know this because I have an original piece that still works.
Haha agreed! I often have “why did we stop doing this” thoughts.
I think you’ll also find Transom windows interesting, as well as Qanats paired with wind towers. 🙂
Maybe in the US. Other places not so much.
Great video. I love this.
Honestly, these cooling tech ideas would all go great in an Urbanism wiki.
@[email protected] What do you think?
I like that idea! I've been procrastinating with filling out the buy it for life wiki as well, but I'll try to get around to this as well when I'm able.
Building your own awning isn't terribly difficult. Time consuming, but if you're just looking for shade and aren't terribly picky about aesthetic, you can make due with some wood, PVC piping, and fabric. Can even get fancy, set it up so you can roll it up around a pipe for storage/safety.
I encourage everyone to try sewing, but it's not for everyone. The machine is a barrier to entry. Your home machine will not cut it. Or you may be able to struggle through but you'll suffer with thin thread that will dissolve in a season or two.
Canvas work is a trade with a wide skill set that not a lot of people possess. You can tack a sheet to your wall and put some posts under it but making something that looks nice, survives storms and lasts for years takes effort and skill.
I'm a canvas guy.
Think they got replace ny screens many places. Think the reason they are forgotten is how insanely expsensive they can be.
I bought zip screens for my westward facing windows and it was ridiculously expensive. And then the electrical work on top. They are all custom ordered to fit the window so it hikes up the price.
I’ve seen awnings in lots of places, including at the newly constructed building I work in?
Must be a US thing
I use an awning to cool my putter's CPU.
BTW the video author is here in Fedi and deserves a mention: @TechConnectify
(Sorry for a dupe if this is one, I didn't see him mentioned the replies I could see so far; cc @urbanism )
Oh, sorry! I will edit the post and add the video credit