{"id":2903,"date":"2013-03-28T14:15:23","date_gmt":"2013-03-28T19:15:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/?p=2903"},"modified":"2014-11-13T17:56:26","modified_gmt":"2014-11-13T23:56:26","slug":"solar-shades-what-are-the-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/solar-shades-what-are-the-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Solar Shades – What are the Benefits?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Solar

Coolaroo Roll Up Shade<\/p><\/div>\n

Reduce Home Energy Costs with Solar Shades<\/h3>\n

Saving money on home energy bills can be a challenge when hot, sunny days increase our dependence on air conditioning. According to\u00a0Consumer Reports<\/i>, “Americans spend more than $22 billion a year…to cool their homes with air conditioning” (July 2008). Reducing our need to turn on the home cooling system is possible with the simple and inexpensive addition of\u00a0solar window shades<\/a>, also known as sun shades, to our windows and doors.<\/p>\n

Solar shades are quite different from standard window shades and offer a number of benefits that go beyond lowering home cooling costs. Sun shades are constructed using a specially designed, breathable fabric that allows light and air to filter through. Sun shades are not black-out shades, but they do reduce the amount of direct sunlight that streams in through a home’s windows and sliding doors or French doors. Unlike interior window shades, solar shades are installed on the outside of a home’s windows or doors. This prevents up to 75% of sunlight from penetrating the window and significantly lessens the heat transfer. Solar shades can reduce a room’s temperature by up to 25%, making the indoor environment inviting and pleasant, even on the hottest summer days.<\/p>\n

Sun shades not only make our homes cooler, thereby saving us money on air conditioning costs, they protect our indoor furnishings from the destructive effects of the sun’s ultra-violet (UV) rays. Over time, UV rays will discolor, fade, and crack the various materials we keep in our homes. Fabrics, furniture, upholstery, carpets, paintings, and more are negatively affected by exposure to sunlight. Damage increases over time, too, so the more sun exposure our home interiors experience, the more our belongings will suffer the consequences. The specialized fabric in solar shades can block up to 90% of the sun’s UV rays and protect our interior spaces.<\/p>\n

In addition to being breathable and able to block significant amounts of UV rays, sun shades are easy to maintain; they are weather resistant, mildew resistant, and can be quickly cleaned with warm water and a mild detergent. Sun shades offer the benefit of privacy, as well. The breathable fabric allows us to see out of the windows and doors, but neighbors and passers-by are unable to see into the home.<\/p>\n

Saving money on air conditioning costs would be reason enough to install solar window shades on our homes, but the additional benefits described here — protection of interior furnishings from UV rays, easy maintenance, and privacy — make sun shades an even more attractive home improvement option.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reduce Home Energy Costs with Solar Shades Saving money on home energy bills can be a challenge when hot, sunny days increase our dependence on air conditioning. According to\u00a0Consumer Reports, “Americans spend more than $22 billion a year…to cool their homes with air conditioning” (July 2008). Reducing our need to turn on the home cooling system is possible with the simple and inexpensive addition of\u00a0solar … Continue reading Solar Shades – What are the Benefits?<\/span> »<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11,19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2903","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-indoor-living-spaces","category-shade-solutions"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2Nnyf-KP","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":423,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/green-windows-solar-window-shades-save-energy-and-money\/","url_meta":{"origin":2903,"position":0},"title":"Green Windows – Solar Window Shades Save Energy and\u00a0Money","author":"Sara May","date":"June 17, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Outdoor Solar Window Shade Saving the planet may seem like a daunting task, one reserved for global treaties and massive industrial shifts. However, when we take small, informed steps to reduce our individual carbon footprint, we can move significantly closer to our shared environmental goals. One of the easiest and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Environmentally Friendly Ideas"","block_context":{"text":"Environmentally Friendly Ideas","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/environmentally-friendly-ideas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":389,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/save-energy-by-using-solar-and-patio-shades\/","url_meta":{"origin":2903,"position":1},"title":"Save Energy by Using Solar and Patio\u00a0Shades","author":"Trey Collier","date":"May 12, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Exterior window shades are the ideal product for reducing temperature within your home.\u00a0The best ones to invest in \u00a0are made with unique knitted all weather fabric because they\u00a0block up to 90% of the sun's UV rays yet still allow air to flow through. This breathable fabric not only significantly reduces\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Innovative Solutions"","block_context":{"text":"Innovative Solutions","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/innovative-solutions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Premier Rollup Shade","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.backyardcity.com\/Images\/Coolaroo\/2007-Premier-Rollup-Sand.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":337,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/classic-roll-up-sun-shades\/","url_meta":{"origin":2903,"position":2},"title":"Classic Roll-Up Sun\u00a0Shades","author":"Trey Collier","date":"March 10, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Sun shades block the heat and UV Rays without blocking the view!\u00a0 A unique design blocks up to 90% of the sun's harmful UV rays and allows breezes to flow through to significantly reduce temperatures.\u00a0 Most roll-up sun shades raise easily like blinds with a pull-cord and cam.\u00a0 High density\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Shade Solutions"","block_context":{"text":"Shade Solutions","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/shade-solutions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Coolaroo Sun-Shades","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/03\/338923_birch.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1493,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/green-energy-for-the-plant-and-the-pocketbook\/","url_meta":{"origin":2903,"position":3},"title":"Green Energy – For the Planet AND the Pocketbook","author":"Trey Collier","date":"March 18, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Going Green\" is a trend that is gaining momentum every year and has become a lifestyle choice for many Americans. Not only does it allow you to do your part in conserving our precious resources, but it can also save you hundreds of dollars a year in utility costs. Making\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Environmentally Friendly Ideas"","block_context":{"text":"Environmentally Friendly Ideas","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/environmentally-friendly-ideas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Energy Saving Green Logo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lsoc-omaha.org\/site001\/images\/splash_saving_energy.gif?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1608,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/tv-and-film-technology-of-the-past-brought-to-life\/","url_meta":{"origin":2903,"position":4},"title":"TV and Film Technology of the Past Brought to Life!","author":"Trey Collier","date":"May 20, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"It's amazing how technology grows. Gadgets and gizmos that were once used in movies and television shows to thrust views into a high-tech and unimaginable future are now, only a few decades later, a reality. Many products around your home would have seemed like science fiction to your parents and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Garden Tools & Tips"","block_context":{"text":"Garden Tools & Tips","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/garden-tools-tips\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/robo-mower-relax.gif?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1445,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/smart-solution-burn-the-midnight-oil-with-a-solar-shed-light\/","url_meta":{"origin":2903,"position":5},"title":"Smart Solution: Burn the Midnight Oil with a Solar Shed Light","author":"Sara May","date":"January 31, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Problem:\u00a0You regularly work on projects in your storage shed, garden shed, or greenhouse, but once the sunlight begins to fade, you are forced to abandon your work until the next day.\u00a0 Interrupting a productive work cycle can be immensely frustrating.\u00a0 What if the train of thought you were riding the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Environmentally Friendly Ideas"","block_context":{"text":"Environmentally Friendly Ideas","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/environmentally-friendly-ideas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Solar Shed Light","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.backyardcity.com\/Images\/GSU\/Solar-Shed-Inside-and-Outside.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2903","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2903"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2903\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3130,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2903\/revisions\/3130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2903"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2903"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2903"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}