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House Orientation and Shape

Save more than 30% of energy

Just orienting your house in the right direction and making it with the right shape (and with properly placed windows) can cut your energy bills by 30 percent or more.

We shouldn’t forget the very basics about the sun’s path in the sky: sun rises in the east and sets in the west and is higher in the summer sky and lower in winter. These basic facts should be taken into account in the design of an energy-efficient house.

Orientation

If you live in the north hemisphere, then the longer walls of your house should face the south. Southern exposure of the house is crucial to get maximum solar benefits.

If you live in the south hemisphere, then the longer walls of your house should face the north. Northern exposure of the house is crucial to get optimum solar benefits.

The optimum position for maximum solar benefits is true south (in the north hemisphere) or true north (in the north hemisphere) but a variation till 20 degrees in the orientation of the house doesn’t have big implications.

Shape of the House and its axis

Buildings should be rectangular and as compact as possible, with their longer walls facing the winter low sun (to profit from it). In other words: the longer axis of your building (its ridge line) should be oriented east/west.

A rectangular house that has its major axis running east-west will allow maximum energy efficiency: this orientations allows maximum winter solar gains and reduces unwanted summer sun (that will strike the east and the west facing surfaces). This shape will minimize the losses and maximize the building energy gains.

Most frequently used rooms facing the winter’s low sun

The areas of the house which are most frequently used should be located on the winter side of the building, where sunlight can enter through windows in the south side, high clerestories windows, or skylights.

Whenever possible, south windows should incorporate well sized overhangs - or be shadowed by trees - to limit sun radiation in the hot months.

Less frequently used rooms on the east/west short side of the house

Other rooms and divisions (namely garages, storage rooms, laundry rooms...) should be located on the home's east/west facing "short side" of the house, where they can act as an extra thermal buffer.

Avoid glass in the east and west sides of the house. Glass surfaces in the east and west sides of buildings are a cause of unwanted energy losses, and should be strongly limited.

Above image: a suggestion of Arizona Solar Center

Shading the house and landscape

Landscape features such as trees, or hills and the predominant orientation of the winds can have a big impact in your home’s energy needs. These features are as important as the orientation of the house.

You should study the prevailing winds and their patterns in order to use plants or walls to direct breezes into the house or to channel cold winter winds away from it.

In the summer, when the sun is higher in the sky, trees with adequate tree-top can help to shade the building and keep it cooler.