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.
See also:
Trees and
Landscape
Windbreaks and Landscape
See, for more information:
Energy Efficient House Basics
Home Air
Leakage and Home Sealing
Good and Bad
Indoor Air quality
Natural
Ventilation: cross and stack
Mechanical ventilation
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