Sun angle and home design

   How you position the major areas of your home in relation to the sun is going to be a matter of personal preference. Would you like the sunlight and warmth in your master bedroom and master bathroom or in kitchen in the morning? Would you prefer to have the late afternoon and early evening light on the back of the house, or the front?

When you’re out looking at lots, keep this in mind. Does the lot have a southern or northern exposure? Would you like the late afternoon sun to be on your future back porch or on the front of the home? Will that work on the lot in question? The process of using the natural light and heat from the sun can be considered the easiest first step in a green building program. By using the heat and light to your advantage you can save a pretty penny on your heating and power bills.  

   Generally speaking, the northern side of your home is going to be the cooler, especially in colder climates, and the southern side of the home will be warmer. The morning sun will come from the East and the afternoon light will come from the west. Determine what your preferences for warmth and sun will be throughout the day, and make sure that a potential lot will accommodate the layout necessary to make it happen. Many people prefer to have the main living area or great room of a home to have a southern exposure, as this is typically the area you and your family will generally be in during the late afternoon and evening. A good architect will help you design your floor plans to best take advantage of whatever you prefer, just make sure you’re future lot can accommodate.