There is often quite a bit speculation on what is the best direction for your house to face. If you haven’t thought about it before, there are quite a few factors that can go into whether the direction your house is facing is a good thing or a bad thing.
Some of the factors that can help influence your decision include if the sun will land on your home which can affect how much heating or cooling you will need to use, along with this a different direction will also affect how much wind your property receives.
Of course before I get into this, not every situation is as black and white as I would like it to be. You also have to take into account space requirements and natural beauty which may affect your decision on your homes orientation. That being said, let’s find out the best direction for house to face!
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The Best Direction For House To Face For Energy Efficiency
If you are interested in saving some money and being more energy efficient, then facing the right direction will help you with this! The prime direction for your home to face is either South Facing or East Facing!
Both of these positions receive a large amount of natural and direct light which might be a little warm in the summer depending where you live, but it will help with heating costs in the winter!
The direct sunlight will help to keep these rooms on your south side of your home warmer, and will help with heat costs throughout the summer. Along with this, if you live in a very snowy climate, then having a south facing home will drastically reduce the amount of snow shoveling you will have to do each winter because the sun will be beating down on the snow and help to melt it.
The added sun exposure not only helps with heat but also for natural light. If you are interested in adding more natural light to your home then consider installing a solar tube! This helps to give you the added ambiance from the morning sunlight for breakfast. It really helps to wake you up and give you an extra boost of energy for the start of your day!
Why Home Orientation is Important For Homes and Tips to Follow:
When you look at homes, and you start to look at different neighborhoods, you don’t necessarily think about that each house might have been placed in a certain direction and angle for a particular reason, or they might not have.
But, that being said there are huge benefits to having your home facing and angled in the optimal position.
- South-Facing Homes are Perfect for Cold Environments, If You Live Somewhere Warm then You Would Prefer North Facing to Reduce the Heat Brought in By the Sun!
- Having More Windows on the South Side Increases the Amount of Natural Light Your Home Will Receive.
- Install Your Air Conditioning Unit on the Shady Side of Your Home to Increase Efficiency.
- Install Solar Panels on the South-West Side to Receive the Most Sun to Generate Power!
- Have Your Bedroom Face East if You’re an Early Riser, or West if You Like to Sleep In! You can also think of purchasing some blackout curtain rods!
Also, it is worthy to note that the best orientation if you want to see the morning sun as the sun rises would be an east facing home, and for sunsets, windows facing west. However, this may not the ideal for houses in the northern hemisphere because of the cold winter months.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Direction for Your House to Face
Selecting the right direction for your house to face is a crucial decision that impacts various aspects of your daily life. As such, there are certain important factors to consider when determining the prime direction for your home’s orientation. These include:
Climate
Your local climate and prevailing weather patterns should heavily influence your decision when it comes to house direction. If you live in an area with extreme temperatures, such as very cold winters or scorching summers, a south-facing orientation may help optimize heating and cooling needs.
Similarly, a north facing home with north facing windows can help save costs when temperatures rise in summer relative to a south facing home with south facing rooms or a south facing side. However, if the main entrance is facing north or the house face north with a north facing yard, there would be less natural light because north typically receive less light in summer even relative to west facing and south facing homes. You can align your front door so that the main entrance faces north as this is just the spot that is ideal.
It is also important to align the house perpendicular to the prevailing wind direction in your location. This will help promote natural ventilation and regulate indoor temperatures. If you’re buying, ensure that you consult with your real estate agents so that you don’t end up with a home facing north or east facing homes.
Landscape
If you’re big on getting the best views through your windows and doors, you need to pay attention to the direction your house faces. Consider aligning your building to capture the best of whatever scenery your property boasts of. Also, look out for neighboring properties and other potential visual obstructions that could affect your view and adjust your position accordingly.
Room Layout
To promote comfort and functionality in your home, you should also consider the layout of the rooms when positioning your house. For living rooms, study rooms/libraries, kitchen islands, entertainment centers, gardens, and other areas that require lots of lightning, consider aligning them to the south, because south facing windows receive maximum natural light, same as a south facing yard.
This guarantees direct sun exposure. So, south facing windows or a south facing home with southern exposure would do better in this regard than north facing homes. This is why the direction your home faces is a crucial one. Another interesting fact is that according to Chinese geomacy or feng shui, this is the recommended orientation.
Bedrooms and nurseries should be positioned facing east or west, depending on your sleeping patterns. A bedroom in an east-facing house will receive morning light making them great for early risers, while west-facing ones get evening light, making them ideal for late sleepers.
Future Expansions
Your future plans for the property are another factor to consider when deciding what direction it should face. Consider the utility of outdoor living areas when positioning. For instance, south-facing backyards may be more inviting for your Azek decking furnishings and outdoor activities because the sun shines brighter there and there’s more sun exposure and radiant heat relative to east facing homes.
You should also consider potential future expansions when choosing the orientation of your building. It is best to position it in a direction that makes it easy to do an expansion project on it.
Which Direction Should Your New House Face?
In regards to sunshine and energy efficiency, the south may be the best for your home’s orientation particularly for your home’s energy efficiency. Houses facing south receive ample sunlight throughout the day, which is ideal for harnessing solar energy through solar panels. It also reduces the need for artificial lighting during the day, both a benefit.
You’ll get all the benefits of natural and direct sunlight which helps save money and energy and has numerous health benefits unlike a north facing house and a west facing house! So if you get to pick, always pick south facing which is ideal for houses in the northern hemisphere! Also, remember feng shui!
Final Thoughts on Home Orientation Direction:
At the end of the day each direction your home might face has different benefits and disadvantages. That being said, there isn’t much you can do if you already own a home to change the direction. You could plant some evergreens on the North side of your home to help block more direct sunlight from summer sun and block the wind in the winter.
But other than that you can’t uproot your home and spin it. But, that being said, if you are in the market for a new home then you have control on your personal preference on which direction your new home will face!
