Best Direction for House to Face for Sunlight

Hither comes the sun

In general, ideal orientation means:

• you become the right amount of sun – plenty in winter and in cooler climates
• you're sheltered from stiff/common cold winds simply tin can accept advantage of breezes to absurd your domicile when it is too warm.

When you're designing a home or planning renovations, there'll likewise be other considerations such equally local climate, view, terrain, vegetation, street admission and racket. You'll need to balance these against the benefits you can achieve through harnessing the sun'southward energy for heating and breezes for cooling.

When should y'all recall about orientation?

It'due south important to consider orientation before yous buy a holding (including an apartment or townhouse), or start designing a new home or renovation.

It's also worth considering orientation for your existing dwelling house, especially if there are small or no windows facing north, or large areas of glazing facing east, due west or south. There may be uncomplicated ways to make the nearly of the orientation – for example, increasing the size of n-facing windows or swapping the apply of existing rooms and then that the sunniest rooms go your living areas.

Positioning for sun

The exact amounts and proportions of glazing you cull volition vary depending on other considerations such as:

• climate
• the level of insulation in your home
• the thermal functioning of windows and window frames, particularly in existing houses.

It is also worth considering the type of glazing alongside the placement and number of windows. For example, if you lot want southward-facing windows to capture the view, consider fewer or smaller motion picture windows, that frame the view.

If you are edifice new, consider upgrading to windows better than double glazing. If you are renovating consider at least double glazing for whatever window yous replace. And retrieve that frames are merely as important as panes. If you are selecting your window frames, consider paying a piddling extra for thermally cleaved or high performance frames – these volition significantly reduce (or possibly fifty-fifty eliminate) window condensation then you lot won't take to wipe down your windows or repaint your window sills as frequently.

Architectural trends in residential design since the 1950s accept led to larger windows, and more than of them. Bigger windows permit more than heat in during summer, and let more than estrus out in winter. Yous volition want to advisedly consider the size and placement of windows – bigger isn't ever better.

To make the most of the sun for warmth and natural light, your home'due south primary living areas (or whatever rooms y'all use a lot) should face north. The main glazing in the house, such every bit windows and glass doors, should also face north. Anywhere between 20°W – thirty°E of true north is fine.

Position windows to make the near of the sun.

The sun is at its hottest at noon when information technology is at its meridian. Considering of this, ensure eaves over northern windows are wide plenty to keep the sun out in summer, but not so broad that they cake information technology from coming in during the wintertime.

Overheating and glare is becoming an increasing problem in New Zealand homes, with the tendency towards larger, floor to ceiling windows.

You'll want less glazing facing west considering of the potential for glare and overheating from late afternoon sun – particularly in hot, however summer climates, and if you aren't home during the mean solar day.

East-facing glazing captures morning time sun and can be sized according to your preference in summertime for light, heat control and ventilation. Glazing placement needs to exist considered advisedly to avoid issues with glare on working surfaces – particularly where there is an e-facing kitchen or study that is used in the morn.

South-facing windows receive minimal sun and should be relatively small to minimise heat loss but permit for diffused or reflected low-cal and ventilation.

Inquire your designer to run a thermal simulation of your house design and optimise the corporeality and positioning of glazing. This volition help to prevent overheating in summer and reduce heat loss in wintertime.

Even if your home doesn't face due north, windows can be positioned to become due north dominicus.

The sun travels higher in the sky in summertime.

Shading

For existing homes and hot climates, shading is an effective way of keeping homes cool in summer. In the north, this is typically washed through the use of eaves, broad enough to continue the summer sun out of the building to avoid overheating.

Overheating is typically at its worst on summer afternoons. Due to the sun's lower angle in the west, eaves are rarely effective at keeping the sun out. Here it's amend to install external shading, such as retractable awnings, louvre canopies, deciduous trees or vegetated pergolas to help minimise overheating in summer, but let sun in during the wintertime.

If there is no room for external shading, you could consider putting in windows with a tint or a special coating – but recollect these will reduce the heat proceeds in winter, just when yous want it.

Shadowing from landforms, trees and buildings

When the lord's day angle is at its lowest in wintertime, objects to the due north tin can bandage shadows two to three times their top. To make the most of the sun, your home should ideally be positioned as far every bit possible from neighbouring buildings, terrain or vegetation that might block north sunday.

If you are looking for a section, look for a site that:

• slopes down to the north – this will get more lord's day than a due south-facing slope
• runs north-due south – this allows a house to potentially maximise a northern courtyard or garden, and be further from neighbouring houses, trees or higher footing on that side.

A north-facing section that is very narrow will give yous limited ability to place living areas and bedrooms along a wide north wall. Effort making the nigh of morning or afternoon sunday in a number of rooms.

On tight sites, building along the southern boundary is a good thought if your local council permits it. Check the Local Councils website for council contact details

Keep in heed that objects to the north tin can cast a shadow of two to three times their height in the middle of winter – even at apex.

Even if your site isn't ideal for catching the sunday (for instance considering it slopes downwards to the s), it may be possible to maximise the sun's warmth using north-facing clerestory windows, skylights or position glazing higher in the walls to take hold of the sun.

Clerestory windows have the added advantage over skylights that in summer, when the noon sun is loftier on the sky they limit the amount of calorie-free entering and thus reduce the risk of overheating. Because clerestory windows and skylights are typically out of achieve, they should exist specified with as high a thermal resistance every bit possible to reduce the likelihood of condensation around the frames and on the panes. Condensation runoff tin cause significant harm to wall linings, and sitting water tin can cause premature deposition of window sills and surrounds.

Passive heating and Passive cooling have more information about glazing options.

A clerestory window will bring n dominicus into a south-facing home.

Cooling when you need information technology

As well as shading, consider having windows located to easily let cooling summer breezes to ventilate the house. A house with a narrow footprint has generally shorter air catamenia paths across the rooms and tin can therefore benefit more from natural cross catamenia ventilation from opening window.

If a business firm has two or more storeys yous could allow for central 'stack' ventilation between the floors, which tin be farther enhanced through an opening skylight or opening clerestory window.

Passive cooling explains this in more than particular.

Letting in breezes, keeping out wind

From southerly gales to north-westerly blasts, wind is an outcome in many parts of New Zealand. Ideally, you lot'll orient your dwelling house in a way that avoids the strongest and coldest winds – but yet allows you lot to harness balmy breezes to keep y'all absurd in summertime.

You can utilize vegetation, landscape and building structures to filter and divert harsh winds. Other features will also assist, such likewise-designed windows.

When you're thinking well-nigh orienting your home to catch summer breezes and avert colder winds, consider whether:

• there is a prevailing wind direction (vegetation patterns can sometimes indicate this, or you tin ask the neighbours; coastal breezes are normally from an onshore management)
• the air current changes with the flavour (in terms of direction and strength)
• the wind force or direction changes at dissimilar times of day (for instance, in hilly areas cool breezes often flow down valleys in late evening and early morning)
• the site is exposed to current of air, and how much (winds are stronger near coastal areas and ridgetops)
• the forcefulness is afflicted past nearby buildings, hills and vegetation (buildings and valleys tin can funnel winds, which makes them stronger, and hills and vegetation can provide shelter).

Capturing the sun should normally be your offset priority, merely if current of air exposure is a major business organization at your site you may choose to place your firm away from ridges or valley floors that channel the wind. If the site is very windy you may choose a unmarried-storey blueprint rather than multiple storeys to reduce the surface expanse exposed to the wind. Including a sheltered courtyard may be a good option to create a less exposed outdoor infinite. You can also institute hedges to shelter behind.

If on the other hand you desire to capture summer breezes you can institute hedges or create external feature walls to form a funnel directing the wind to where y'all want.

Other considerations

Besides every bit sun and breezes, y'all'll also need to consider:

• how you will use the site (any garden, garage, shed, fencing, etc.)
• views and outlooks (on your belongings and wider)
• neighbours
  • for your and their privacy and security
  • don't shade them with your house, debate or trees if you can avoid it
  • consider neighbourhood noise (for example, nearby businesses)
• retain some windows that face the street for security and community connectedness
• have space to park and turn a vehicle effectually and expert visibility when leaving the holding.

Safety and security includes information well-nigh firm orientation and street view.

Striking a balance

Achieving the ideal orientation is nigh striking a rest between sun, breeze and these other factors. If yous compromise on orientation in order to take advantage of views, you may still be able to make your home energy-efficient by using features such as adept insulation and well-placed, well-sized windows.

crowetroys1980.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.smarterhomes.org.nz/smart-guides/siting-and-location/house-orientation/

Share this post