Five Tips on Using Shade Sails to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

A fashionable addition to any outdoor area, shade sails are more than just stylish, they are also functional. In fact, when used strategically, shade sails can help make your home more efficient and save you money on energy bills. Want to boost your home's energy efficiency with shade sails? Here are five tips to help:

1. Use shade sails to stop direct sunlight from entering your home.

During the summer, the high sun in the northern sky beats into north-facing windows, causing homes to get hotter and air conditioners to run on over time. By attaching shade sails over these windows, you can block some of the heat and give your air conditioner a break.

2. Choose shade sails with reflective colours.

Although you certainly want your shade sails in colours that complement your home, you also want them to be reflective. Choose light shades of the colours you like the most, and even consider glossy or shiny coatings. That all helps to reflect the sun's rays and keep them away from your home.

3. Remember ventilation.

Unfortunately, even if your shade sails reflects the sun, they may also harbour heat underneath them. That locks heat close to your windows, exactly where you don't' want it. To prevent this effect, you want a sun shade with grommets -- they help ventilate out hot air.

For first floor windows you can reach easily, also consider using shade sails with ventilation along the top or sides of the sail. Then, you can adjust the vents as needed based on the heat.

4. Opt for sturdy, weather-resistant materials.

When choosing the shade sails to cover your north-facing windows, look for ones made of sturdy canvas or acrylic that has the ability to withstand moisture and direct sunlight. You want quality shade sails that promise to stand the test of time.

Unfortunately, if you buy a low quality shade sail, not designed for constant use, its fibres may start to wear down, and as a result, it won't be able to block the sun as effectively or help make your home more efficient.

5. Embrace shade sails in all your outdoor living areas.

In addition to using shade sails to block direct sunlight, also remember to use shade sails to make your outdoor living spaces more inviting. You can use shade sails with decks and balconies, over patios, around pools and in other outdoor spaces. They help create pleasant shady outdoor spaces, and the more you are outside, the less you have to run your air conditioner to keep the inside cool.  

For more information, contact a local shade sail retailer like A & B Canvas Australia.