So. Awnings eh? Everyone I tell I am going to take them off immediately: because they are ugly, and because I can't see anything out my windows but the inside of them , and because I don't get the light into my house I dearly love, says, "nooooo don't do that. Your heat bill will go wayyyyy up." And I think, "you know, I don't think I care too much about that. What can I be talking, a couple bucks a month?" Well, I haven't taken them off yet (see earlier post about letting the house have some input). I also Googled awnings and energy savings. Apparently, they do a lot. Some estimates are that they can lower a house temperature by as much as 8-15 degrees. By the way; lately it has been hot as hell. I just came out of an efficiency apartment that was pushing 550 square ft. So My heating and cooling bills were pretty low. I am not so enthusiastic about getting walloped by the first electric bill. I am a man of open mind and consideration - especially when money is involved. So, I can consider the awnings. They really are ugly. I am also a man of aesthetic sensitivity. So I have a dilemma. The "green" thing to do would be to leave them and praise the simplicity and efficiency of such a simple and, in this case, given, energy efficiency assistant. On the other hand, I can say, "hey, life is short, the world is in a shambles, nothing is going to last anyway, why not just chuck the stupid ugly things and enjoy the sunlight?" I will feel a little guilty if I take them off for purely aeshetic reasons and, do so, knowing I will use more energy as result. So, being an intellectual, I have to come up with some kind of rationalization. Ahhh. No problem..., I have one already. Here it is. I will leave the awnings up till I devise a way to grow a natural vine arbor over the windows that will give shad in the summer and allow the sunlight in the winter. Perfect. Ok. next issue with this house....