If you aren’t new to the planet earth, you already know Mr Sun and his beloved Miss Rosie Sunshine. Welcome the ‘little miss’ and she will bless you with sheer profundity of warmth.
There is a definite reason why designers chew carefully on the orientation of a home. After all, they want to be doubly convinced that homes make maximum use of the Sun. So how do you go about maximising benefits of sunlight for your home?
To begin, take a good long look at the floor plan and ensure that it pushes a large chunk of the living space towards north. Remember, I am talking about the Southern Hemisphere in general and Australia in particular.
North: build frequently used areas on this side
Sunlight penetrating through the northern corner of your house keeps your winters warm. Wisdom says that you should keep the frequently used areas of your home towards the north.
South: build bedrooms for cool summers
South remains coolest over the day in winter and gets hottest during summer days. It naturally follows that this is where your bedrooms should be. As an aside, areas which are scarcely used during daytime should be constructed along the southern flank of your home.
East: this is where your kitchen should be
You receive bountiful sunlight in the morning at the eastern flank. You will be well served by keeping your kitchen here. The kitchen space will bask in sunlight and create positive energy in the morning. Gastronomically speaking, the breakfasts may also be better digested (one of the many health benefits of sunlight exposure).
West: construct prudently to minimise damage
West is where the afternoon sun does most damage. Avoid constructing living spaces here. Contrarily, build laundry area, garage or a thick slab of insulated wall here.
Double-glazed windows of right size
Double-glazed windows are a brilliant technique of conserving beneficial heat, insulating against noise and energy loss. Of course, double-glazing alone cannot ensure positive energy from the Sun reaching out to you.
You need to work on the size of windows too. Rule of the thumb says that windows should be big in size on the northern walls, medium-sized on the eastern and western walls and as tiny as possible on the southern flank.
Concrete slab for conserving heat
Judicious use of a concrete slab can ensure that sun’s heat is absorbed by the floor during daytime only to be released during night for your comfort. I must hasten to add that overlying carpets or area rugs minimise the effect of heat working on the concrete slabs. Avoid them.
I once chanced upon these lines and they have remained with me since- “Do you see that out there? The strange, unfamiliar light? It’s called the sun. Let’s go get us a little.”
Have you worked out your living spaces, orienting them in accordance to the Sun in your home design or home renovation plans?