Sunshades are elements of a building facade which project over the windows to reduce the amount of sunlight penetration. They are considered a green feature because they tend to reduce the energy expenditures needed for interior cooling more than they increase the need for heating on account of lost sunlight in cold months (their extent is often calculated to block the higher summer sun while allowing the lower winter sun to shine through the windows).

Sunshading is only listed as a building feature when it is applied throughout the facade, as opposed for example to a cornice which shelters only the top floor windows from sunlight. Sunshades may take the form of projecting fins, awning-like projecting panels, or lattices with angled slats which block sunlight but allow persons at windows above them to look down through them, thus minimizing the loss of views.

Sunshades can be fixed or mechanical; in the latter case they can be opened or raised (either automatically or manually) to let more light in when desired.