Unblocked sun can damage the floors, furniture and drapes; it heats the room and increases the cooling costs. According to the U. Department of Energy, correct window coverings can create savings of up to 25 percent of heating and cooling costs. Custom made window shades and blinds can be made to fit into an arch; however, because of the shape of an arch an inside-mount shade or blind cannot draw up, so without advanced customization these coverings are typically stationary.
A drapery-maker can produce fabric shades, but specialty manufacturers construct Venetian blinds and honeycomb shades. Venetian blinds may have the facility for tilting open and closed, and some honeycomb shades are available with a top down feature. Instead of drawing to the top of the window to open, these shades drop down and rest on the window sill. The sketch shows how overhangs take advantage of the fact that the sun is high in the summer and low in the winter.
The overhang for south facing windows can be incorporated in the roof overhang, or can be a separate overhang or awning just over the window areas. Update: It should be noted that overhangs on south facing windows are only effective.
In looking at the solar radiation numbers for a few locations, it appears that only. The rest of. This means that a strategy that uses sun blocking solar screens. Of course, for east and west facing windows, where overhangs are not effective, some form.
You can get the average values of diffuse and total solar radiation on south, north, east, and west facing. Shading overhangs. An exterior vertical trellis works well for shading East or West facing windows, and preventing excessive solar gain.
These windows cannot be shaded by overhangs because the sun is low in the sky when shining on the East and West sides of the house. Plants growing on the trellis can provide some additional shading in the summer and allow more sun during the winter when its desirable.
A larger trellis can cool an entire wall plus windows and further reduce heat gain. A wood trellis design that does not look so effective for low sun -- maybe with plants it would work better? An aluminum trellis on the eco house that is populated with plants during the summer.
A moveable sun screen that. Horizontal trellis to shade deck and windows. Grapevine shading on a Trellis -- colonial Williamsburg. Plans for a very elegant shade structure. This could be used as a standalone shade structure or adapted to shade a house window. Very detailed plans.
Plans for a simple wood framed, shade cloth trellis fro Alnet. Detailed plans for a free standing shading structure. Some links with external shading devices:. All rights reserved. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
Hang curtains for a decorative window covering option. Curtains are a great way to block the sun from coming in through the window while providing an attractive, decorative addition to your space. Department of Energy Official site for the U.
Department of Energy, which provides resources related to energy safety, conservation, and efficiency Go to source To choose the right curtains, first measure the width and height of your windows.
Then, order the right size, fabric, and style to suit your space. You can then install a curtain rod and hang the curtains across the rod to block out the sun. Curtain panels made of thicker, darker colored materials, such as black or navy thick cotton or polyester, will block out more of the sun than curtains made of thinner, lighter colored fabrics, such as a white or oatmeal linen.
Department of Energy, which provides resources related to energy safety, conservation, and efficiency Go to source Spread your curtains out the length of the window to block more sun from shining through, or push them back a bit to let a little light in. Adhere Velcro strips to the inside edges of your curtains to keep the curtains closed in the middle.
Install blinds for an easy-to-use option. Installing vinyl, PV, aluminum, or wood blinds is an effective and relatively inexpensive way to block the sun from coming in through your windows. While blinds can be a bit more difficult to mount than curtains, you can install blinds yourself by measuring to determine where to hang the mount, attaching the brackets, and installing the head rail.
Department of Energy, which provides resources related to energy safety, conservation, and efficiency Go to source Cordless fabric blinds tend to be more effective at blocking out the sun than vinyl blinds. Mount shutters to cover the windows when you want. Mounting either interior plantation shutters or exterior shutters is a great way to both block sunlight and reduce your home heating and cooling costs. Department of Energy, which provides resources related to energy safety, conservation, and efficiency Go to source Once you measure your windows and choose the right shutters to suit your taste, you can install your interior or exterior shutters yourself or hire a professional to mount them for you.
Both interior and exterior shutters come in a variety of materials, such as wood, steel, aluminum, and vinyl, and are available at a wide variety of price points. Cover the exterior of the windows with awnings to limit sunlight. While they require a bit more maintenance than other options, window awnings are also a great way to shield your windows from sunlight.
Awnings are also a great option if you want to decrease the sunlight coming through but still be able to see out the window. She is a regular freelancer for "Living Light News," an award-winning national publication. Her past writing experience includes school news reporting, church drama, in-house business articles and a self-published mystery, "Duty Free Murder. By Lori Lapierre.
Related Articles. Numerous companies apply solar window film or window tinting to block sunlight, if homeowners do not wish to tackle the project themselves. Window solar film can be easily replaced or removed from the window at a later time. If the home is under a Homeowners Association, check to make sure the window film fits the association's rules; some films may be too dark, for instance, or not allowed at all.
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