In fact, according to a recent market research survey on U.S. Residential Awning Usage, conducted by Harris Interactive Inc. and commissioned by the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association (PAMA), nine out of ten homeowners are concerned about saving money on energy costs for their home, while three-fourths are concerned about reducing air conditioning costs.

"Money and energy costs were top concerns for homeowners, which goes hand-in-hand when selecting new products for homes," said Michelle Sahlin, managing director, PAMA. "However, the study also revealed that although people are concerned about being environmentally friendly, many homeowners are complacent and unwilling to allocate funds to projects that help conserve energy."

In fact, the survey found that if homeowners had the money to spend on their backyard, almost one in five would get a new deck, spa or hot tub - items that don't promote energy efficiency or sustainability.

"We're all concerned about our carbon footprints, yet we're having a hard time spending the money to take positive action," said Sahlin. "With energy neutral products, like awnings, homeowners make the initial purchase and can then reap the energy efficient benefits over time."

PAMA promotes the use of other energy conservation devices such as therma-cool barriers, draft stoppers and low flow shower heads that use no electricity to conserve energy.

Blending function, style and sustainability, awnings cool the home's interior during hot summer weather while reducing electricity usage. Below are some ways awnings achieve neutral, sustainable home living:

When located above windows and patio doors, awnings can provide benefits to people living without air conditioning by reducing inside temperatures by as much as 8 to 15 degrees.

Outdoor window and door shade products, such as awnings, reduce direct solar gain through home windows. This is important because solar radiation through glass is responsible for nearly 20 percent of the load on an air conditioner. Additionally, the ability of awnings to limit the sun's rays through glass directly reduces the impact of global warming from greenhouse gas emissions. While awnings on individual homes can reduce air conditioning usage and costs, when a neighborhood collectively uses awnings, the entire community benefits. The collective reduction of energy usage reduces the overall demand on the energy infrastructure, subsequently preventing black outs.

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