Why don't we use awnings anymore (2022)

(thecraftsmanblog.com)

413 points samclemens | 1 comments | 15 Oct 24 22:11 UTC | HN request time: 0.206s | source

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philwelch ◴[16 Oct 24 02:28 UTC] No.41855050[source]▶

I might just be unusually sensitive to this, but there is a downside to awnings that hardly ever gets mentioned. Yes, an awning keeps your house cooler by blocking sunlight, but it also blocks sunlight, reducing the natural light inside your house. This means you either sit in the dark or use more artificial light, which is fine except natural sunlight is (for me at least) very beneficial for mood and for maintaining the circadian rhythm.

I know lots of people who don't mind living in darkness or seem to have a personal vendetta against the sun, and maybe those people would be genuinely better off with awnings, but I don't think they're for me.

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Aeolun ◴[16 Oct 24 04:55 UTC] No.41855749[source]▶

>>41855050 #

I think the reason this doesn’t get mentioned so much, is because the sun is absurdly bright during the day. I imagine a well designed awning doesn’t affect the light levels of your home to any perceptible degree.

In my experience that’s true anyway.

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1. philwelch ◴[16 Oct 24 05:55 UTC] No.41856005[source]▶

>>41855749 #

> the sun is absurdly bright during the day.

Yes, this is what makes it so hard to replace with artificial lighting! I enjoy that absurdly bright sunlight. My house has extra windows over most of my windows and these specifically allow that sunlight in to add ambient lighting. During daytime most of my house is fully illuminated even with the lights off and blinds drawn because of these upper windows. You might describe what I have as the exact opposite of an awning and it’s one of my favorite features.

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