How to choose the right orientation for your home

Did you know that how you choose to position your home can make a big difference to your energy bill? 

Yes, in fact it’s one of the most important factors in a new way of sustainable home design called passive design. 

What is passive design?

Passive design is when you design and build your home in a way that considers the environmental conditions and harnesses the natural elements (like the seasons).

When done correctly, passive design can drastically reduce your energy bill and reliance on heating and cooling.

What are examples of passive design?

• Orientation

Choosing to face your home a certain way to take advantage of the sun positioning to heat and cool your home.

• Window placement

Changing the size and position of windows to allow more natural light, airflow and heat into the home.

• Shade structures

Building shade structures like pergolas or awnings on east and west facing glass to keep the home cool.

What is the best house orientation?

The best house orientation will depend on your climate but generally the most popular and most desirable house orientation is north-facing. Why? Well, it has to do with the natural light and energy efficiency.

A north-facing home will act as passive solar heating in winter, and it’s easy to shade that side of the house in summer. It also provides a tonne of natural light into the home - something that can really change the feel of your interior. 

If  you’re located in colder cities like Melbourne or Hobart, a house that maximises northern sunlight is ideal. You’ll have plenty of winter sunshine streaming through your windows and a high sun in summer means your home won’t be scorching hot either.

However, if you’re in hotter parts of the country, you’ll want to ensure there is adequate shade cover on your north-facing house - you can do this with trees, eaves and external blinds.

What if I don’t have a north facing block?

Don’t have a north facing block? Don’t worry! There are plenty of ways you can build your home to ensure it is as energy efficient as possible. If you’re building one of our tiny homes, we can work with you on the design and make sure that it is in the best position on your block.

Interested in owning your own tiny home? Get in touch to see how easy it is to get started today!