Revisions log for Answer #2505

Real shutters can help to some extent with winter cooling. To protect against solar radiation in the summer, I'd take care to have enough eaves. During the summer months, the sun is higher. If properly sized, not a single ray of direct sun gets through the windows. In winter, the opposite is true: you heat the entire building when the sun is there. Also, with the right roof overhang, cleaning is less labor intensive.

Both together can make up for the disadvantages to some extent.