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Press Release Source: Professional Awning Manufacturers Association (PAMA) New Study Proves Awnings Can Save on Energy Costs for Homeowners Wednesday February 21, 2007 Awnings, an increasingly popular home improvement option, provide style, shade, curb appeal and an even greater benefit -- reduced energy costs ROSEVILLE, Minn., Feb. 21/PRNewswire/ -- A new study found that awnings can provide significant savings on cooling costs and on peak electrical demand by reducing solar gain through home windows. The study, Awnings in Residential Buildings: The Impact on Energy Use and Peak Demand, was conducted by the Center for Sustainable Building research at the university of Minnesota. The Professional Awning Manufacturers Association (PAMA) funded the study to determine if awnings are a viable mean of reducing energy and air conditioner usage in the home. Most U.S. residential neighborhoods do not have a significant number of awnings, unlike Europe, where awnings are used to reduce air conditioning use in the summer. The study investigated the energy savings for single family homes and the reduction of energy use during peak periods. In the first phase of the study, awning impacts were measured in seven U.S. cities across various climates, including study revealed that in all cities for all window orientations tested (see tables on page 2), there were significant energy savings in cooling costs and peak electricity demand as a result of using window awnings. The amount of energy saved varies, depending as a result of using window awnings. The amount of energy saved varies, depending on the number of windows, types of glass in the windows and window orientation. Phase two of the study is due for release in the spring and will include additional cities. Specifically, the study found that in Phoenix, Ariz., a warm climate, window awnings can reduce the use of home cooling energy as much as 26 percent compared to a home with completely unshaded windows. In St. Louis, Mo., a mixed climate, awnings can reduce the use of cooling energy as much as 23 percent. Similarly, in Boston, Mass., a cold climate, awnings can reduce the need for cooling energy as much as 22 percent. "Depending on the region a home is in, awnings can save home owners more than $100 annually, but energy savings like this are valuable beyond reducing homeowner's expenses," said Michelle Sahlin, managing director of PAMA. "When numerous homeowners reduce their need for energy, there is less demand for energy at the times of peak usage, resulting in overall savings to utility companies and the public from a decrease need to supply generating capacity." Researchers used a specialized computer program to investigate variables in conjunction with a standard awning with sides. The variables included geographic location, window orientation and exposure, winter and summer usage, and window type. For more information about the study, contact Michelle Sahlin at mesahlin@ifai.com. About PAMA The Professional Awning Manufacturers Association (PAMA), a division of IFAI, is made up of awning fabricators and suppliers in the awning industry. PAMA maintains two Web sites: http://www.awninginfo.com , which focuses on association members and commercial awning use, and http://www.awningstoday.com , which educates consumers about awnings and awning benefits. The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) proactively represents and promotes the products and innovations of the specialty fabrics industry worldwide. http://www.ifai.com Summary of Awning Impacts In Seven U.S. Cities: Table 1: Equal Window Orientation
Percent of Cooling
Percent of Peak Table 2:
East Window Orientation (A majority of windows are located on the east
side of the home.) Table 3:
South Window Orientation (A majority of windows are located on the south
of the home.) Table 4: West Window Orientation ( A majority o windows are located on the west side of the home.)
Percent of
Cooling Percent of Peak (The north orientation is not shown because the impacts of external shading devices are small.) NOTE: The annual energy performance figures shown here were generated using RESFEN for a typical (new construction) 2000 sq. ft. house with 300 sq. ft. of window area. In the first case, the windows are equally distributed on all four sides of the house. Where windows are predominately on one side, the distribution is 240 sq. ft. on that side and 20 sq. ft. on the others. U- factor and SHGC are for the total window, including frame. RESFEN is a computer program for calculating the annual cooling and heating energy use and costs due to window selection. It is available from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (http://windows.lbl.gov/software/resfen). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This report was developed with support from the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association (PAMA). In particular, we appreciate the input from Michelle Sahlin, managing director of PAMA, who initiated and shaped the project. The Window and Glazings Program at Lawrence and Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). Source: Professional Awning Manufactures Association (PAMA) |