If you place them too close together, your vines might be tempted to attach themselves to your home's exterior. Subsequent runaway growth could cause damage to the outside of your home. Another disadvantage of placing a trellis too close to the side of a home is that the trellis keeps heat close to your home and heats the exterior and interior. Simply put, the more vegetation you have, the lower the surrounding temperature. Dark green leaves absorb sunlight, and the process of photosynthesis further decreases surrounding temperatures.
Awnings are particularly effective.
Place them above the windows on the south side of your home, and you'll reduce incoming heat up to 60 percent or more. Place awnings above windows located on the eastern side of your home, and you can cut incoming heat nearly 80 percent. When you select an awning, choose a light-colored one that reflects sunlight rather than absorbs it. Keep your awnings up only during the summer months. Keeping them off during the cooler months will help you enjoy maximum warmth.