heat Archives - Rainier Shade

Going Green with a Rainier Screen

By jennie | May 16, 2018 |

Well, it’s another hot summer here in Seattle! The Rainier team is committed to sustainability, and we know that being environmentally friendly is important to our customers, too. Here are a few of the ways that an awning or screen can help you go green this summer: Using an awning or exterior screen to cool a home is more energy efficient than traditional air conditioning. We participated in funding and research for an independent study which found that shading with a screen or awning can reduce cooling costs here in the Seattle area by over 60%! Our exterior screens keep as much as 85% of the heat from the sun from cranking up the temperature in your living room. Nearly all of the components of our screens and awnings are manufactured in-house, so they’re not being imported from overseas. It’s estimated that about 25% of the total carbon footprint generated today comes from the movement of goods between international companies. This is called “embedded emissions,” and it’s pretty interesting – Carbon Trust is the company leading the way in research on the topic, and you can read their article on embedded emissions here. And if you’re still not convinced, here are a couple of Rainier’s bragging points: We are ISO 14001:2015 certified – we have a sustainability plan in place and keep track of seven key measurements for our overall carbon footprint. Those are things like the quality of the air in our production facility and how our employees are getting to work (many of them regularly commute by bike!) We were the City of Tukwila’s #1 recycler in 2012! We recycled or composted 99 tons of waste (that’s 82% of the total waste generated!) in the first quarter of 2013. We were also one of King County’s best workplaces for recycling and waste reduction five years in a row, from 2012-2016!

Sun Protection

By jennie | May 14, 2018

Want to preserve the healthy glow of your furniture and your skin? You could try moving to Antarctica, but a more practical solution is to extend your retractable awning! UVA and UVB rays from the sun can damage your skin, as well as fade pigment in your furnishings, interior flooring, and drapes. Blocking the sun with a retractable awning will protect you from sunburns. You’ll look cool, and feel even cooler. A lateral arm awning blocks the sun’s rays from directly overhead, and if your home faces west, a drop valance adds shade into the afternoon and evening when the sun is lower in the sky. We call it sunblock, but an awning blocks the sun better than that stuff in a bottle, and won’t leave you with greasy fingers!

Screens for a Great Cause

By jennie | July 25, 2017 |

We’re so excited that Rainier Screens will be featured at the first ever Dallas Showhouse, organized by Traditional Home magazine! This was created by Texas real estate developer Paul Moss’ Marina Bay Development Corp., and his wife, a well known designer and TV host, Donna Moss. The home will open in 2017, featuring high end home products — including Rainier Screens. Even better, the event benefits a great cause: the home will be sold with a portion of the proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Association. The association is committed to eliminating the disease, including care and support for those with Alzheimer’s and reducing the risk of dementia by promoting brain health. We are proud and humbled to be part of this event that benefits such a great cause, and one that affects so many people. Creators Paul and Donna Moss both had parents affected by the disease. Rainier President Scott Campbell’s father and Rainier’s former owner, Robert Campbell, also had Alzheimer’s. Rainier donated the screens that will be featured, and our dealer Southwest Shade Solutions in Dallas donated the installation by their expert crew. Visit http://www.dallasshowhouse.com/ to learn more.