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Why don't we use awnings anymore (2022)

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413 points samclemens | 6 comments | 15 Oct 24 22:11 UTC | HN request time: 0.812s | source | bottom
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NathanKP ◴[16 Oct 24 00:14 UTC] No.41854398[source]▶
I think the builders of the past would be amazed by modern technology like argon filled double paned windows with advanced window films to reflect the heat instead of letting it in.

But yes, let's bring back the awnings too. Sometimes the low tech ways are easiest and best. I will say that I don't think awnings alone can save a stick built modern house from the heat. Part of the key to old houses staying cool was high thermal mass: lots of brick and stone that could stay cool during the day. As great as modern insulation is at keeping hot and cool separate, a modern insulated wall doesn't cool it's surroundings like a high thermal mass wall would.

Moving to a world where we combine passive cooling and high thermal mass construction with the benefits of modern tech will be key in my opinion.

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amluto ◴[16 Oct 24 04:06 UTC] No.41855502[source]▶
Awnings have a nice property that fancy windows don’t: they can reduce heat gain in the summer while still allowing more heat gain in the winter. A nice south-facing window that lets the low winter sun in can provide a lot of desirable heat in the winter in a cold climate.

(Also, removing a given amount of summer heat via air conditioning is considerably cheaper than adding that same amount of winter heat via gas or heat pump in many climates, because the indoor-outdoor temperature difference is much higher in the winter.)

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1. defrost ◴[16 Oct 24 04:11 UTC] No.41855525[source]▶
Even better, depending on climate, grape vines.

Our house (Australia) has trained vines on the sunny side that are thick with leaves and grapes in summer, bare and leafless in winter.

Ideal for seasonally sensible shade and warmth.

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2. cperciva ◴[16 Oct 24 06:00 UTC] No.41856028[source]▶
Don't the vines damage the house?
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3. yarnover ◴[16 Oct 24 06:13 UTC] No.41856091[source]▶
English ivy (hedera helix) can damage mortar, but grape vines don't have holdfast structures like hedera that can sink into mortar. Plus, hedera helix is so dense that rotting vegetation and sheltered animals can also cause problems. Grapevines have tendrils that grab onto and twine around something like wires or a trellis.
4. defrost ◴[16 Oct 24 06:21 UTC] No.41856123[source]▶
They're on a free standing trellis that doesn't touch the house.

Two actually, a vertical mesh straight up from the garden bed adjacent to the brick paved verandah, and another that's almost horizontal with a slight slope away from the house.

Most of the summer growth is dense on the horizontal (like an awning) with grape bunches developing and hanging down for easy picking when rips.

5. devjab ◴[16 Oct 24 06:41 UTC] No.41856222[source]▶
Most vines, including Ivy don’t damage bricks walls that are build well. I don’t know about grapes but most ivy uses “suction cups” to trap on directly to the bricks. I think the misconception that they damage mortar might come from the moisture the plants can trap which can then damage the masonry. Or maybe it’s because the plants hide damage until it gets serious Mortar doesn’t last forever after all. Anyway, if you build your house or wall properly you can grow stuff on it with basically no downsides outside of having more bugs (and the things that eat them) on your wall that you might want.

It might not work so well on the Lego brick walls that are glued onto the front of concrete these days, but that would just be a guess.

6. pvaldes ◴[16 Oct 24 20:46 UTC] No.41863693[source]▶
Vitis vinifera has a deep vertical root that can fit in even narrow places and don't causes a lot of trouble. Climbing roses can vary, some are huge and they trow a lot of garbage, but short climbers normally are manageable. If they grow too much, you can just prune it to a desired size

Ivy or Wisteria are a different question. The first will damage walls and the second can crush anything like a vegetable python