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Enhancing Green Building Practices and Efficiency for Homes and Businesses with Awnings

Denise O'Leary • October 24, 2024

Incorporating efficiency-enhancing features in residential and commercial structures in Phoenix is becoming increasingly important as property owners seek ways to counteract high cooling costs during the summer months. One key element that can be retroactively added is awnings.

Awnings can minimize heat absorption, improving energy efficiency and contributing to sustainable architecture. In fact, awnings can be part of broader strategies for LEED certification by reducing energy consumption, lowering cooling demands and enhancing occupant comfort.

Awnings and Heat Management in Green Building Practices

In regions like Arizona, where sunlight is intense, homes and commercial buildings experience a significant amount of heat gain from sun exposure, especially through windows and exterior walls.

Patio awnings, shade sails, roll-up sunshades, exterior solar screens with high shade factors and retractable patio shades are all potential add-ons that can block direct sunlight before it reaches windows, doors and walls. This reduces the amount of heat absorbed by a building, allowing air conditioning systems to work more efficiently, which in turn lowers energy bills and carbon footprints.

Placement is particularly important in Phoenix, where west-facing walls and windows experience the most severe heat gain during the summer. For homes or buildings situated in such a way that severe afternoon and early evening heat gain is unavoidable, shade screens and awnings can be crucial for optimizing efficiency.

EPA Data on Energy Efficiency

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that window shading systems, such as awnings, can reduce solar heat gain by up to 65% on south-facing windows and 77% on west-facing windows. For property owners seeking to improve the energy efficiency of their homes or businesses, awnings and roll-up screens provide a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution.

Supporting LEED Certification Goals

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement.

To obtain LEED certification, buildings must meet certain energy efficiency, sustainability and environmental standards. While awnings and solar screens alone may not qualify a building for LEED certification, they can contribute to credits, particularly those related to energy efficiency, thermal comfort and daylight management.

Thermal Comfort and Daylight Management

LEED certification also considers the indoor environmental quality of a building, including thermal comfort and daylight management. Awnings and solar screens allow for better control of indoor temperatures, making spaces more comfortable for occupants. Awnings and solar screens can also help optimize natural light by diffusing harsh sunlight, reducing the need for artificial lighting during the day, and creating a more pleasant indoor environment.

Dynamic Heat and Light Management

In cooler months, retractable awnings and roll-up solar screens can be drawn back to allow sunlight to enter the building, providing natural heat and reducing the need for artificial heating. During the hot summer months, these shade devices can be rolled out to block the sun’s rays and keep the building cool. This flexibility in managing heat and light contributes to energy savings and enhances indoor comfort, aligning with green building practices.

Solar Screen, Awning and Shade Sail Energy Savings Can Add Up

The installation of shade solutions that prevent heat gain inside a structure can lead to a noticeable drop in energy bills, particularly in large homes or commercial structures. These enhancements can be particularly important in commercial properties with many windows – especially if they are westward oriented.

The savings from blocking solar heat gain in a commercial property with large cubic footage to cool can be significant and may amount to hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year. The cost of some of these shade solutions can also be reasonable, especially compared to replacing existing windows with high-efficiency alternatives or replacing HVAC systems.