How much does your house design actually help with the weather?

I keep thinking about putting up some kind of awning or planting a fast-growing tree, but I’m not sure if that’s actually going to help as much as, say, sealing up drafts or adding more insulation.

Honestly, I’m with you on questioning the “insulation fixes everything” advice. I added a shade sail over my west-facing windows last summer and saw a bigger drop in afternoon temps than when I beefed up the attic insulation. Trees are a longer game, but even a cheap awning or some tall shrubs can make a dent. Did you ever try window film or blackout curtains? Curious if anyone’s seen real savings from just tackling drafts vs. blocking sun directly.