The arrival of summer heralds a time when people turn to air conditioners and iced drinks to stay cool both inside and outside the house. Yet many do not consider a better option that can cool down the house but at the same time save on energy costs. This option is to make structural modifications to the house and take advantage of the natural ability of moisture to cool down the ambient temperature. Nonstructural shades like metal (steel or iron) gazebos can also be used but we neglect them for now.
We discuss three methods of modifying the house for cooling purposes. The first is to install outdoor shades to the house most often as a canopy or window awning. Such shades help create more usable space outside the home but also cut down on the light that enters the house. By cutting down the light that enters, homeowners reduce the “greenhouse” effect which is essentially the warming up of the house due to trapped light energy.
One may choose two kinds of outdoor shades, both discussed here. One is the traditional awning and the other is the canopy.
Canopies are structures shaped like tents. The configuration of a canopy can be simplified down into the shading fabric and the steel scaffold that holds up the cloth. People like to have at the very least the top of a canopy shielded with fabric. The side-walls are optional, depending on whether the canopy owner is cognizant of privacy or more circulation in the canopy.
Awnings are a familiar thing to see for most people who have taken a walk on a sidewalk arrayed with retail establishments. They are the fixed-structure shades that shield store entry ways and windows. Awnings for private residential use have evolved far beyond classic immobile and one-piece shade cloth configuration. Modern awnings retract by themselves in dangerous winds, are powered by motors and controlled remotely.
There are many more types of outdoor shades that may fit your purpose. Even simple exterior bamboo roll-up blinds can help reduce cooling costs except that they lack the versatility of awnings and canopies which are also good for making the outside space useable.
In addition to shades, savvy homeowners know that one can use outdoor misters to cool down the exterior of a house. A mister sends a fine spray of water into the air which slowly evaporates by absorbing energy from the air. The net result is a cooler air temperature in the immediate vicinity of the mister. Evaporative cooling is used at amusement parks like Disneyland for keeping crowds comfortable.
The last major type addition that works well with both of these is the outdoor fan. Indoor fans have smaller blades, use little electricity and move limited amounts of air. The outdoor versions have greater power supply requirements but can push a lot of air over a large space. If this is coupled with a mister, the breeze generated from the outdoor fan will help evaporate the water droplets which enhances the cooling effect many-fold.
Additional topics and articles on outdoor shade for the home can be found at the site. Extra resources supplied for wrought iron gazebos can be located here.