https://youtu.be/uhbDfi7Ee7k

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)

Image Links: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3

  • Peppycito@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    131·
    4 months ago

    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.

    • Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      3·
      4 months ago

      no earthly clue what you’re on about, retractable awnings are perfectly common here in sweden, and most office buildings even have them automated.

      They’re perfectly affordable and you kinda just screw them into the wall…

      • Peppycito@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        32·
        4 months ago

        I don’t make retractable awnings. China makes retractable awnings. I would expect the average cheap awning to last 3 to 5 years on the high end. A quality awning will last more, and you’ll pay more. A permanent awning like on a business will be thousands of dollars, depending on size. Per window. I’m talking about custom work, not off the shelf.

        • Oisteink@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          3 months ago

          I’m thinking there might be differences across the pond. They are fairly common in europe. Blinds make the heat inside and mostly just deals with light. If your windows are not standard size you’d need custom blinds. And now screens are coming, doing both the work of blinds and awnings

    • Grass@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      1·
      4 months ago

      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.

    • Chakravanti@lemmy.mlEnglish
      13·
      4 months ago

      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.

      • Peppycito@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        2·
        4 months ago

        I can tell you that I would not take on any anlwning jobs. I’m quite busy enough without the hassle of drilling into brick or dealing with rotten headers or any of that crap. I’d guess $1000/window would be a starting price. How many windows do you have? Do you want to recover the awnings every 7-10 years and take them up and down twice a year? Or buy an air conditioner now and again. That’s why the awning trade has died. Except for automatic ones that come in a box.

        • Chakravanti@lemmy.mlEnglish
          11·
          4 months ago

          AC isn’t the kind of thing you have to crank the energy for 15 Million Merits. Don’t see why an awning should cost a popular media labor of obligation versus just burning oil and, of course, the whole fucking planet. I’d call you (as in everyone, nothing personal) a sloth but I ain’t trying to insult that mammal.