How Can Installing an Awning to Your Home or Business Save You Money?

January 1, 2019

Installing an awning on any home or business will dress up the building, provide shade, and give the building more curb appeal, all while providing a sheltered space from the sun, snow, or rain.

But what you might not know is that by installing an awning, you can save money. Your awning will eventually pay for itself, and that’s something that few people know. Here’s how:

Summer Cool

Before air conditioning was available, awnings were used for their cooling properties. Most of the sunlight that comes in through the glass windows can be eliminated by putting up an awning. How much, you might ask? Well, an awning will substantially reduce heat gain from the major directions of sunshine.

For example, on south facing windows, an awning will reduce heat gain by up to 65%. But on east or west facing windows, an awning will reduce heat gain by 77%! What this means is that if you have an air conditioner running, much less power will be required to cool your home or business. A smaller AC unit can do the job just as well as a larger unit, and in either case, you will pay less on your energy bill just by installing an awning.

Winter Chill

By retracting an awning in the winter, you can allow the sun to get through the windows and take away some of the winter chill. By letting the sun heat the interior of a home or business, your heating system doesn’t have to work as hard, and it burns less fuel. So even in the winter, by installing an awning you’ll be able to regulate the temperature of your building just by retracting it.

Rain and Snow

An awning protects windows, too. By deflecting pelting rain, an awning decreases potential leaks and damage to the frames, sills, and seals around the windows. That cuts down on repairs, which saves money.

When it snows, an awning can protect a sidewalk, porch, or walkway, making snow removal easier. This can cut down on labor costs for a business and on potential injuries if you are a homeowner. Over 11,000 hospitalized cases from shoveling snow occur each year, and if there is little or no snow to shovel because of an awning, that figure would drop significantly.

A Real Money Saver

So next time you look at a home or a business with an awning in use, look past the beauty or the classic style it brings. Look at it as a cost-effective addition first because an awning proves that beauty and function can come together to save money.

For any questions about how an awning can save you money, please contact The New Dorchester Awning Company. We’re proud to be Boston’s awning company since 1901, also serving the Cape Cod and New England area. Contact us for a free awning quote.