Lost huge shade tree now AC/temp is suffering - are sun shades an option?

Question

Lost a huge shady camphor that filtered sunlight for about 75% of the house (1 story, ranch style, 1200sqft). Obviously another tree won't be viable for several decades but is there a way to use sunsails/shades to gain a similar effect? Not sure what my neighbors would think of it, but not too concerned there. I assume I would have to put up poles to hold the shades and have some way of lowering them/removing them during hurricanes. Is there an obvious reason people don't do this more that I'm missing?

Answer 1

Pergola

I built something similar to this:

Very easy to make, many options for the structure. Vine grows on it, in the summer leaves block the sun and make shade on the windows ; in the winter the leaves fall off and it lets the sun in.

Only drawback is I have to trim the vegetation once a year.

This is also quite wind proof, due to being full of holes.

Here's another one:

Basically you need a structure (metal, wood, your choice) either suspended from the wall or resting on feet/columns. Then pull some wire through it, for example every 20cm, to act as support for the plants. You can see the wires in the pic. Choice of plants depends on climate, but the faster they grow, the more trimming you'll have to do.

Wisteria will give flowers in the spring, then shade as leaves grow at the beginning of summer. They will also colonize your roof if you let them.