Orientation for Heating and Cooling in Homes in Australia

Some people choose to buy land to build a house from scratch. When considering land for building, buyers usually analyze its size and location carefully. Soil tests also play a very important role in the construction process and they should never be neglected.

The orientation plays a very important role in the home design. When designing your home, you must position rooms as well as windows in the right way. It is incredibly important to design your house with the local climate in mind.

Windows in your home can face north, north-east, north-west, south, south-east, south-west, east or west. Explore all of your options carefully and make the best possible choice.                 

Why Home Orientation is So Important When Building a House

You should position your home in a way that allows you to use energy for your heating and cooling needs in the most cost-effective way. There is a direct link between the orientation and energy-efficiency of a home.

If the rooms of your home get the best use of natural light during the cold winter months, your heating costs will reduce. On the other hand, a need to use cooling systems arises if you get too much natural light during warmer months in summer.

You should aim to incorporate the right amount of sunshine and heat into a home and create the most comfortable living conditions. It would be better to calculate the orientation of your home in advance.

Obviously, you should minimize natural light if you live in a warm climate. On the other hand, you should get as much natural light as it’s possible if you live in a cold climate. It goes without saying that a well-oriented home will help you save a lot of money on energy bills in the long run.

Which Direction Should Your Home Face?

The amount of heat that enters your home depends a lot on a direction that your home’s windows face. The design and orientation of a home should depend on the climate. Now, we will talk you through different house orientations and explain their advantages. Hopefully, this will help you decide which direction your home should face.  

Southern orientation

The southern orientation is suitable for warm climates. If your windows face the south, your home will not receive too much direct sunlight throughout the day. This will help you save energy and cut your cooling costs in the summer.

If you live in a south facing house, then you can take advantage of window coverings to minimize the cold in the winter months.        

East orientation

If you live in an east facing house, you will get the solar light only in the first half of the day. You will accumulate heat in the morning and spend it throughout the day. This will allow you to reduce your heating bill.

With an east orientation, you will have an uncomfortably warm house in the morning. It is a good idea to install small windows in a home that faces east. You can also take advantage of deciduous trees to shade windows on the eastern side in the summer but still allow sunlight to warm the home in the winter.    

West orientation

If you live in a west facing house, you will get the solar light in the afternoon. It makes a lot of sense to consider a home with a west orientation if you live in cold climates.

In a house that faces west, you will experience discomfort during hot summer months in the afternoon. You can strategically place the garage or plant trees to create additional shade for the house. Installing smaller windows will make it possible for you to block the sun and prevent heat gain in summer.  

Northern orientation

The northern orientation is recommended for areas with cold climates. If you pick such an orientation, your facade will get light all year round. This will help you save a lot of money on heating in winter. It would be great to install higher glazed windows in a north facing house. By doing so, you will make your home more energy efficient.    
     

What is the Best Orientation for a House in Australia?

Australia is a country that has different climates. There are regions where temperatures are extremely high in summer and regions that have very low temperatures during the winter. Due to these mixed climates, houses are designed differently all over the country.

The north of Australia is known for its warm climates. Here, you should build a house with a southern orientation to block the sun from entering your home and reduce your cooling costs.

However, the situation is different in such cities as Melbourne and Hobart. These regions are known for cold winters. That is why it would be better to get as much sunlight as possible for your home during the cold winter months. In these areas, it makes sense to build a house that faces north.    

The areas, which are lower in Australia, have colder climates. It would be better to consider either northwest or northeast orientations if you are going to build or buy a house in these areas. With northwest orientations, you will get sunlight in the afternoon. With northeast orientations, you will get the sunlight in the morning.

Final Thoughts

There is lots to prepare prior to construction. First, you must calculate the ideal orientation of your home for the area in which you are building. After that, you must decide what rooms in your home must get more direct light and which ones need less light.

For example, you should aim to attract more light to a kitchen or a living room. On the other hand, bedrooms do not require as much light.

Orientation for heating and cooling is a very important aspect that should never be ignored. Whether you are going to build a new house or buy a property in Australia, you should always pay close attention to the orientation. If you make a smart choice, you will be able to benefit financially for a long period of time.

Best of luck!

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