When summer rolls around, we are at the mercy of the temperature and humidity. Most people think of cranking up the air conditioning or stocking up on cold lemonade to cool down, but not many people think about long term solutions for cooling that does not require electricity or excessive intake of liquids. One long term solution is to add to the house a structural modification or addition that can help cool down the house. Freestanding shades like iron or steel gazebos are also possible but we do not discuss them here.
There are three major and complementary ways of doing so. One is to add outdoor shades to the home in the form of a canopy or awning. The effect of such a shade is not only to reflect more sunlight off the exterior space of the house, such as in the backyard or on the deck, but also to reduce the amount of reflected glare and direct light from entering through a window. Light that enters a window gets trapped as heat (or infrared radiation) inside the house. An outdoor shade prevents that lights from ever entering.
One may choose two kinds of outdoor shades, both discussed here. One is the traditional awning and the other is the canopy.
Canopies are structures shaped like tents. The configuration of a canopy can be simplified down into the shading fabric and the steel scaffold that holds up the cloth. People like to have at the very least the top of a canopy shielded with fabric. The side-walls are optional, depending on whether the canopy owner is cognizant of privacy or more circulation in the canopy.
Awnings are a familiar thing to see for most people who have taken a walk on a sidewalk arrayed with retail establishments. They are the fixed-structure shades that shield store entry ways and windows. Awnings for private residential use have evolved far beyond classic immobile and one-piece shade cloth configuration. Modern awnings retract by themselves in dangerous winds, are powered by motors and controlled remotely.
The outdoor shades discussed here are only a limited sampling. Other types like the bamboo roll-up blinds which are fitted onto the exterior of a window can give some of the same energy-saving benefits but are limited in the respect that they do not add usable space to the house.
The next major modification that helps homeowners cool down, especially in dry and arid areas of the United States, is the outdoor mister. Most people have seen misters at amusement parks that cool down the area where lines form by spraying water into the air. The fine water droplets evaporate which absorb heat energy to help lower the temperature. This is similar to how human skin stays cool by sweating. As sweat evaporates, the skin cools down.
The last major type addition that works well with both of these is the outdoor fan. Indoor fans have smaller blades, use little electricity and move limited amounts of air. The outdoor versions have greater power supply requirements but can push a lot of air over a large space. If this is coupled with a mister, the breeze generated from the outdoor fan will help evaporate the water droplets which enhances the cooling effect many-fold.
Specialty detail resources on outdoor shade for the home are free for your use. Readers wishing to know more can browse over to learn about steel or iron gazebos.
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