By 2 p.m. in June, a west-facing lanai in Orlando hits temperatures that make the space unusable until sunset. The right outdoor shades fix that, dropping surface temperatures by up to 15 degrees and blocking 95% to 99% of UV without giving up your view of the pool. If you are not using your lanai during the hottest months of the year, you are losing the best part of owning a Central Florida home.

In Florida, where the sun hammers west-facing and south-facing windows for hours every afternoon, solar shades are one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce your cooling load. They don't just make the room feel cooler. They measurably reduce how hard your AC works, which shows up on your electricity bill.