Awnings Offer Relief From Sun’s Heat (NAPSA)—Sunlight streaming through a window may brighten everything in its path, but large, cheery windowscan lead to a dark mood whenthe cooling bill comes. In a typical home, more heat gain occurs through glass doors and windows than through any other construction element. Instead of putting up shades or tinting your glass doors and windows, consider installing awnings. Studies by the American Society of Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers show that during the period of the day when the sun shines directly on southern-facing windows, a fabric awning reduces heat gain by 55 to 65 percent. For windows with western exposures, the reduction in heat gain can be as much as 72 to 77 percent. That can translate into tremendous savings on your energy bills. It also means your furniture, floors and carpeting will be protected from sun damage, and colors won't fade under harsh ultraviolet rays. Think an awning would be too much work, requiring constant upkeep or frequent replacements due to rot or fading? Think again. Today’s high performance awning fabries, such as Sunbrella brand fabrics, are woven from 100 percent solution-dyed acrylic yarns, which means the color is faderesistant and will withstand years of exposure to sun, wind and rain. In addition, these fabrics are breathable, fast-drying and will keep mildew at bay. Awnings can also be very flexible. While a fixed awning might be right for your home, you can also install a retractable awning, which provides a sun or shade option at the touch of a button. Sensors can be incorporated into a retractable awning to detect high ! KS Awnings with Sunbrella fabrics can help lower energy bills, and protect furniture, floors and carpets from sun damage. winds and automatically retract the awning to protect it from possible damage. Awnings can also enhance the look of your home. You can vary the shape and thesize of awnings and add even more custom touches through fabric selection. Awning fabrics, such as the Sunbrella collection, offer a vast array of attractive colors that range from rich earth tones, such as heatherbeige, to a wide assortment of greens, from the soft look of fern green to the dark, classic appeal of forest green. There are also snazzy stripes that include fashion forward colors such as periwinkle, navy, burgundy and manyothers. So whether you want to shade your home from the sun’s heat and reduce your cooling bills, enjoy an outdoor patio or deck without dealing with the sun’s blistering rays or update the look of your home, an awning may be the right choice. For more information, visit www.sunbrella.com.
