this post was submitted on 19 Jul 2024
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Solarpunk Urbanism

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“Awnings: a simple cooling tech we apparently forgot about” 🪟 (slrpnk.net)
submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by Blair@slrpnk.net to c/urbanism@slrpnk.net
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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

top 26 comments
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[–] stoly@lemmy.world 35 points 4 months ago (3 children)

I’m really convinced that the whole world decided one day that air conditioning was magic and gave up on everything else.

[–] Peppycito@sh.itjust.works 12 points 4 months ago (3 children)

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.de 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

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.works 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

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.world 1 points 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.works 1 points 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.ml -2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

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.works 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

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.ml 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Peppycito@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 months ago (2 children)

You should proof read your comments. That reads like a tweaker's stream of consciousness.

[–] Chakravanti@lemmy.ml 0 points 4 months ago

Black Mirror E02 since, obviously, you missed the blatant naming.

[–] Chakravanti@lemmy.ml 0 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Okay, nix that earlier meta-direction of a reference. I do now, in fact, make a personal insult.

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 9 points 4 months ago

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. 🙂

[–] teft@lemmy.world 5 points 4 months ago

Maybe in the US. Other places not so much.

[–] andrewrgross@slrpnk.net 17 points 4 months ago

Great video. I love this.

[–] toaster@slrpnk.net 11 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Honestly, these cooling tech ideas would all go great in an Urbanism wiki.

@ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net What do you think?

[–] ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net 4 points 4 months ago

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.

[–] NakariLexfortaine@lemm.ee 10 points 4 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Peppycito@sh.itjust.works 7 points 4 months ago

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.

[–] Frostbeard@lemmy.world 6 points 4 months ago

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.

[–] amanda@aggregatet.org 5 points 4 months ago

I’ve seen awnings in lots of places, including at the newly constructed building I work in?

[–] earmuff@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 4 months ago

Must be a US thing

[–] WhyFlip@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

I use an awning to cool my putter's CPU.

[–] djasa@cztwitter.cz 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

@Blair

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 )

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 1 points 4 months ago

Oh, sorry! I will edit the post and add the video credit