Awnings: a simple cooling tech we apparently forgot about

Seriously - where'd they go?
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[TechnologyConnections]

A note on sun angles throughout the year:
I included (then removed) a section in the script where I explained how the correct overhang on a South-facing window will completely block the sun in the summer when the sun is high in the sky, but will let sunlight pass in the winter when the sun is low in the sky. A remnant of that lived on when I discussed those really fancy home design techniques.
The reason I decided to remove it was that there are plenty of places on Earth where this is irrelevant! If you live where heating your home is rarely if ever a concern, then that sort of selective blocking wouldn’t be important to you. You’ll want to block the sun all the time! And in any case, since adjustable awnings are a thing, a discussion on ideal overhang angles felt too weedsy. But, since a few remnants of that discussion remain, I wanted to leave this explanation so you’re not confused.

[namenamenamename]

Any technology channel can make a video on a new $1000 smartphone, only a master of the art can make a 20 minute video on awnings.

[matthewwhite]

In temperate climates, planting deciduous trees on the sunward side of a house shades it in the summer and lets the sun in during the winter. Genius.

[alexanderkvenvolden]

15:16 "It's not like awnings don't come with any drawbacks..."

Indeed. Many awnings can be drawn back during the winter months to let more heat energy in, and let you enjoy the sight of a beautiful winter day.

[MyLordSpartan]

As an employee of an awning manufacturer in southwest PA, the pride i take in my job even more after this

[John-bvu]

Michigan just prohibited HOAs from banning "Energy-saving improvement or modifications.” It doesn't specifically mention awnings, but I think it would be easy to argue they count. Here is what it says:

“Energy-saving improvement or modification” includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(i) A clothesline.
(ii) Air source heat pumps.
(iii) Ground source heat pumps.
(iv) Insulation.
(v) Rain barrels.
(vi) Reflective roofing.
(vii) Energy efficient appliances.
(viii) Solar water heaters.
(ix) Electric vehicle supply equipment.
(x) Energy-efficient windows.
(xi) Energy-efficient insulation materials.

[theCountOfTotal]

0:35 “i’m not here to sell you anything”
And now it dawns on me that this guy had never run an ad in any of the days of videos that I have watched…
Thank you! You’re awesome 😊

[ahmedel-sayedosman]

An architect here.
The weather in North Africa gets really hot in the summer (more than 40 degrees Celsius or 104 F) and most of my clients request these automatic aluminium shutters which are quite ugly and make all the windows look like mini- garages, but they do a great job in reflecting most of the heat and direct sunlight. The issue that it's either you solely rely on artificial light or just turn the house into a glorified greenhouse.
What most contemporary architects do is actually look back at how traditional houses were built because they were excellent at utilizing materials and shade to naturally cool down houses by A LOT.

One of the techniques used is that the awning is actually part of the building, where the window seems like it is indented in the wall (which is either built thick 50cm or almost 20 inches or it is a double wall with air between them that act as an insulator. ) or carved in and almost no direct sunlight reaches it unless it's late afternoon and by then it isn't that hot. the thick walls also help a great deal with not letting the heat reach the internal walls. Some old houses have horizontal wooden slanted louvres called "Shish" and that blocks the sun without blocking airflow and it is surprisingly effective.

Another technique which is genius is the use of windcatchers, where a chimney-esque structure is built but facing the wind (Which is NW where i live) and that "catches" the cool breeze. Cold air is heavier so it descends until it is heated back up again and escapes through other openings that are high near the ceiling creating a cross-ventilation system and you have natural cooling all day long. some old lavish houses in Old Cairo even have a dedicated livingroom with a water fountain right under the windcatcher to introduce humidity to the dry desert wind and make it even more pleasant and cooling.

It baffles me how these are solutions that are tried and true, much cheaper than AC, more aesthetically pleasing and more environmentally friendly, yet everyone opts for AC that just dumps more heat making outdoor spaces unbearable in the summer.

[SillyNep]

I find it funny how you mentioned the window shutters in opposition to the awning, but I have window shutters in my building and they can be turned into an awning by pulling a little lever to the side, so they can be both

[RandomDudeOne]

If you've ever lived in a house that had awnings and then had them removed, you learn quickly why they were installed in the first place.

[cobble]

4:10 props to Alec, a well dressed man, for wearing a necktie to avoid being compared to a beautiful home which is devoid of awnings

[stevenrichman]

European guy here living in an old home: we have old wooden external rollers, which can be skewed in the summer to get some cooling airflow between the window and the roller. Have not seen those anywhere else, so once again: old-school passive solutions are sometimes just pure genius.

[zarosthealmighty]

The ice cream store I used to work at had massive south facing windows that would light up the whole floor. It also has a massive rollable awning. In the summer when it's rolled out, the inside really does stay much much cooler. It's wild how simple and effective such things are.

[evildude]

Growing up, my grandparents' house (built in the 50s) in Miami had corrugated aluminum thicc boi awnings, which served double purpose as storm shutters. When a hurricane was a few hours away, I would go outside with my grandfather and disconnect the poles holding them up, then screw the bottom of them into an anchor point below the window. So much easier than buying plywood or putting up single purpose shutters.

Edit: Found them, they're called clamshell awnings.

[unetherized]

Yo I'm living in an apartment where the sun comes straight through windows on one wall and that side of the house is 15 to 20 degrees warmer in a heat wave. I've been huddling in one room with the ac and blankets nailed up to keep the cold air in, thinking to myself "what in the world can I do to improve this." I did NOT think of awnings! This is a blessing thank you for reminding me that awnings exist

[explorerofmind]

No other YouTuber has ever influenced me to buy things as much as you. I’ve changed the type of can opener I buy, the type of air conditioner, and now I’m going to cover all of my windows with awnings.

[roxy]

As someone with awnings and tree cover on the southern side side of my home, I can 100% ABSOLUTELY CONFIRM they are keeping my house cooler than if we didn’t have them. We don’t have AC and my first floor area stays much cool during the day than when I lived in houses without awnings.

[AdamMPick]

Scrolled a bit, did not find a comment on it, but won't read 5k+ comments, so here it goes.
"European" roller shutters are double walled. They do not get hot from the inside. Some even have extra insulating foam inside. The window does not get warm.
Their added bonus is that they provide extra isolation in the winter, too. Keeping the cold out. Also, they provide protection from the elements. Hailstorms are no match for those shutters.
They can also be closed all the way, if properly installed, providing a blackout effect on the light, so you can sleep better during the day.
Last but not least, they provide added sound proofing.

PS. a few spelling corrections.

[OMGItsRob]

The best "air conditioning" I've ever experienced came from trees all around our house. In summer, their leaves block the sunlight, and in winter, they shed their leaves to let the sunlight in. Great video 👍

[ProstMeister]

Funny to notice that here in Italy basically every house, condo, or villa is equipped with awnings, typically retractable ones. You're so encouraged to install them that if you buy certified sun blocking awnings, you get a tax refund.