Using cut-up pieces of a lightweight reflective silver fabric sun-shelter that I found discarded on the beach, today I experimented with further reducing solar gain by covering outwardly-opening windows. This is also meant to reduce light intrusion from street lights at night.
It’s not low-hanging fruit like my homemade trellis awnings, or the thick drapes over the big windows. But already it still seems to be a worthwhile improvement in heat reduction. So I will probably make it a little more official by hemming the pieces and sewing little custom ties onto them. As opposed to just having them clipped with clothes pins etc. the way it is now.
See photos here of my preliminary effort.
I seem to have good results with things like this when I am willing to let myself start with a really “rough draft,” so to speak. Instead of feeling like I have to right away produce some perfectly tidy, professional-looking little window covers.
By the way, I notice I feel kind of OK with rooms being a little bit dark in the summer. What would feel gloomy in the wintertime feels cool and soothing in the summer. My windows are optimized to let in plenty of sunlight in the winter.