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Why don't we use awnings anymore (2022)

(thecraftsmanblog.com)
413 points samclemens | 7 comments | 15 Oct 24 22:11 UTC | HN request time: 0.002s | source | bottom
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pistoleer ◴[16 Oct 24 07:10 UTC] No.41856374[source]▶
It surprises me to read about "fixed metal frame" awnings. You don't _have_ to make that trade off.

In the Netherlands a lot of houses have electrically retractable awnings (or even just mechanically windable by hand), especially above the giant windows facing the back yard.

During winter and bad weather, we retract the awning. When it's too sunny, we deploy it.

typical row house layout with big windows on both sides: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doorzonwoning

retractable awning: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zonnescherm

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greener_grass ◴[16 Oct 24 08:21 UTC] No.41856798[source]▶
The Netherlands seems like the most sensible country on earth. How did they manage it?
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JonChesterfield ◴[16 Oct 24 08:50 UTC] No.41856974[source]▶
Low population and high income from natural resources.
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1. Etheryte ◴[16 Oct 24 08:59 UTC] No.41857018[source]▶
The Netherlands has a higher population density than the US (520 people per square km vs 37) and lower GDP per capita ($62k vs $82k), so I'm not sure if that framing is exactly useful. In absolute numbers, yes, there's fewer people, but they're packed into a very small area so you have to be smart about how you do that.
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2. masklinn ◴[16 Oct 24 10:07 UTC] No.41857370[source]▶
Also natural resources in the Netherlands? At least 20% of the country is reclaimed land, and more than half is under high tide water levels.

I think GP confuses the Netherlands and Norway.

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3. ninalanyon ◴[16 Oct 24 10:43 UTC] No.41857595[source]▶
When it comes to resources Norway and the Netherlands are radically different. But it's in how the resources were used not in whether they existed. The Dutch had a lot of North Sea gas but they, like the UK, squandered the income from it. Norway was lucky to avoid what has become known as the Dutch disease partly because Norway was later to the party.
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4. rahkiin ◴[16 Oct 24 10:46 UTC] No.41857611[source]▶
The Netherlands lives on trade. From slaves and spices to the Rotterdam port as entry to the waters of europe and Schiphol Amsterdam airport.
5. JonChesterfield ◴[16 Oct 24 10:50 UTC] No.41857634[source]▶
Yep, parsing error on my part. Too tired today. Norway also being a country that seems to do most things right.
6. apexalpha ◴[16 Oct 24 13:43 UTC] No.41858969{3}[source]▶
Squandered is a bit much be built the Delta works, among others things.

There's more than one way to invest money. Though I agree they could've put at least some of it in the stock market like Norway.

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7. ninalanyon ◴[16 Oct 24 20:25 UTC] No.41863477{4}[source]▶
Yes, on reflection I should have tried harder to think of a somewhat less inflammatory word.