East/West Shading

East and west facing windows should be protected to reduce heat gains into the building in the morning and afternoon. A combination of external vertical and horizontal louvers or overhangs can block excessive solar gain. Horizontal are better to shade when the sun is higher in the sky and vertical when it is lower. Trees along the east and west sides of the building can help cool ground and air temperatures by blocking solar radiation before it reaches the exterior walls during the summer.