Cutting utility costs with awnings

Ever see candy-striped awnings gracing the storefront of a barbershop? Before blinds and tinted glass were developed, awnings were used to provide shade and shelter. Awnings actually help decrease utility costs and can help save hundreds of dollars per year on utility bills, and here a few ways how this happens.

Did you know that awnings have been around since ancient Egypt? Back then, woven mats were attached to buildings to keep the relentless rays of Egyptian sun from choking the cool out of various establishments. Eventually, the sloped version made its way to nineteenth-century windows, setting a long-standing trend for years to come. However, that was an age before electric and gas companies sent monthly bills for necessary services that can sometimes break the bank.

Almost 40 percent of incurred heat that barges in through windows and awnings helps spaces stay 20 degrees cooler on warm days. That means air conditioners can run less frequently, and that gives the cost of electricity a nice break. So, while you're sitting under that propped-up awning sipping lemonade in the shade, you're also saving money.

When winter hits, awnings serve another defencive purpose. Awnings help prevent damaging snow buildup from ruining surfaces and help keep you from shelling out time or money for snow removal.

However, during cold weather, retractable awnings being drawn back let the sunshine in -- and the advantageous greenhouse effect, too. Snow often reflects sunlight, allowing it to stream into windows and provide a natural heat source.

In cooler climates, utility costs matter because the cold can be brutal and the heat can be excessive. Awnings are making a comeback as an effective cost-saving method to deflect heat during the summer and permit heat during the winter. So, if you spend a few hundred dollars on having an awning installed, but save $30 every month on utilities, that means you save $360 a year on utility costs.

The next time you see an awning and think of it as a throwback piece of window dressing, you may want to think again. There are various styles and types of awnings that can add tremendous value to homes and businesses. When you're looking for a way to give a space a little character and keep utility costs down, you may want to keep awning installation in your sights.