AWNINGS HOT TOPICS
IMPROVE YOUR HOMES' ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Dept. of Energy Web Site (www.eere.gov) focuses on improving energy efficiency for homes and the use of awnings as part of that solution. Click here.
HIGH-TECH AWNING CONTROLS
OPTIMIZE AWNING BENEFITS
Managing the use of sun and shade can have a significant impact on home's energy efficiency. For more information, click here.
ENSURE LONG-LIFE FOR HOME AWNINGS
Regular maintenance is easy and valuable.
Regular maintenance generally means a once-a-year cleaning, with additional care if stains or soilage appears. Your professional awning supplier will be able to recommend awnings cleaners in your area. A regular cleaning schedule starts the first year in which the awning is in service. Your awning professional can help by offering a regular maintenance contract. Also, remember that your awning is an exterior product. In the same way you wouldn't leave your automobile outside without washing it for very long, you'll also need to clean your fabric awning to preserve and extend its good looks and service life.
Before cleaning any awning fabric, consult the fabric manufacturer for proper cleaning instructions:
- Brush off debris
- Clean from the bottom and work up.
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Gently scrub awning and valance
- Wash all parts of the awning
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Thoroughly and completely rinse awning
- Rinse your awnings monthly with a garden hose
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Brush awning underside regularly
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Keep shrubbery and vines trimmed away awnings
More Info on awning care and winter storage
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10 Weekend Projects to Make Yours a Smart(er) Home
For the most part, having a smart home is simply a matter of energy efficiency. Sure, high-tech home automation systems and gadgets will help you save—and even create—energy, but the low-cost (or free!) DIY weekend projects can make the biggest splash. Here are 10 weekend projects and 14 quick tips to make a smarter, more affordable home.
Published in Popular Mechanics, April 2009
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Awnings: the Home Improvement that Pays
You Back
Now more than ever, home improvements should go beyond just adding aesthetics and provide return on investment... In most homes, more cooling energy is lost through glass doors and windows than any other part of the house.
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Keep Weather in Mind when Buying an Awning
"Awnings can provide protection from sun, rain and snow. Tony Wanamaker from West Deer, for instance, thinks the canvas awning he added is 'without a doubt the best thing I did to my house."
By Bob Karlovits, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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Shades of Nostalgia: Awnings Can Lower Energy Bills, Protect Furnishings From Fading
By Ann Cameron Siegal, Washington Post
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