Site Orientation
DECIDING THE BEST ORIENTATION
Every so often you walk down a street and there is one house that stands out from all the rest. It sits on the lot at a different angle or the rooms are the reverse of what one would expect. Most likely this house has been sighted on the lot, taking the environment, the homeowners personal preferences and needs into account. Correct orientation assists passive heating and cooling, resulting in improved comfort and decreased energy bills. Views that can be enjoyed from certain directions or privacy that can be realized by an adjustment or change of position should be considered when placing your home on the lot.
Aligning to the street or boundaries because that is the traditional way of doing it will not allow you to take advantage of these benefits.
THE RIGHT PLACE
Choosing a location that suits your lifestyle, finances and long term needs is paramount.
Living in an established community, near your work, close to shops, public transport and other amenities will reduce traveling time and your dependence on a car, resulting in more leisure time and a better life style.
Always choose your land before deciding on a house design, taking into consideration slope, views, vegetation, sun and wind orientation and neighboring buildings.
LIFE STYLE
- Inadequacies in an existing home drive the desire for change. Analyze your current lifestyle and anticipate your future needs to help you in making the best decision possible.
- As you start to focus on a particular suburb or locality, research the planning controls governing the site .
- A location that provides easy access to work, school, shopping, exercise, health care and socializing should be considered.
- It should continue to accommodate changes in employment, financial position, health, recreational focus, family (new & empty nest), retirement and old age.
- Planning now to accommodate these needs long term reduces car usage, saves time money and the environment.
- By eliminating the need for a second car you will save money and help the environment. Access to public transport or siting your house within walking or cycling distance of common destinations can eliminate the need for a second car.
- Cheaper housing on the city fringe is balanced by continuing higher transport costs (car price, fuel, maintenance, time).
- Smaller yards mean higher housing densities which are usually more energy-efficient because facilities and infrastructure are better utilized. In many areas, vacant land for new homes is scarce. Appropriate re-use of existing buildings will result in energy and materials savings. Avoid demolition and refurbish wherever possible. Save money and the environment.
- In the interest of making an informed decision allow time to visit other suburbs or areas.
- A site can be where an existing house or unit is located or where you design or build a new one.
- Your design will be affected by easements, setbacks and building restrictions so check for these before you begin to design.
- Determine which climatic features to enhance and which to diminish to increase comfort and decrease energy use. Decide whether solar access or access to cooling breezes takes priority.
- Observe the surrounding buildings and trees to determine if they will have an effect on noise, privacy or shadowing. Site your house so the impact is decreased as much as possible
EFFICIENT LAND USE
- Efficient planning and land use reduces embodied and operational energy costs for you and the entire community.
- Small rectangular lots usually permit the most efficient land use.
- Fewer exposed exterior walls increases energy efficiency because there is less heat loss through the walls.
- Longer, narrower housing forms are preferable in hot humid climates as they facilitate passive cooling.
- Take advantage of the benefits of zero lot line building if possible. If you build closest to the northern boundary it offers more southern exposure and a larger area of use on the southern side, rather than two small lanes on either side of the home.
- Observe sun and shade patterns to determine solar access if desired.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR REMOTE AND RURAL SITES
Protection or repair of rural sites is always preferred. It is possible to repair a damaged site by using sustainable builidng and planting techniques.
SERVICES
Unlike building in a developed area, the services are not usually in place when buying a rural property for building. The cost of these service must be taken into account when establishing a budget. They can add as much as the cost of the house. One way to offset some of the cost in the long run is to consider renewable energy sources and eco friendly alternatives. This is not an area where you should do without since the lifestyle and economic affects can be negative.
ACCESS
Good road or driveway design and construction will reduce erosion and sedimentation, minimise maintenance costs and guarantee all weather access.
TRANSPORT
While city living is not for everyone, the trade-offs in choosing rural living include increased transportation costs and vehicle use. These have a negative impact on the enviroment.
CHOOSING, DESIGNING OR ALTERING A PLAN
- Once you have made a list of the priority features and items that you cannot live without do not compromise. Let those you are dealing with know what you want so you do not waste your time or theirs. Any change costs money and also creates the need for other changes to accomodate the first.
- Always consider the effect your plan and design will have on the site. It should take advantage of the positive aspects of the site such as solar access, shading and cooling breezes, while mitigating the negative aspects. Indoor/ outdoor relationships are a desirable aspect of lifestyle.
- This will only create an envirnoment that enhances your lifestyle while improving efficiency and protecting the environment.
- The process of clearing and building on a site very often destroys the unique and desirable features that attracted us in the first place. Be ever mindful of the impact each step in the building process will have on the natural environment and take any steps possble to preserve and protect them.
SITE ORIENTATION
When choosing a site take into consideration whether your primary needs will be for heating, cooling or both. This means that you must take into account, seasonal and daily temperature fluctuations, humidity, hot or cold breezes, geography and surrounding buildings.
ORIENTATION FOR PASSIVE HEATING
Solar access refers to the amount of sun that reaches each area of your home.
Passive heating means using winter sun as a source of free heat and keeping summer sun out. The climate you live in will determine the amount of solar access that is desirable.
- You can achieve good passive solar performance at minimal cost if your site has the right characteristics. Where possible, choose a site that can accommodate south-facing daytime living areas and outdoor spaces.
- Sites running N-S are ideal because they receive good access to southern sun with minimum potential for overshadowing by neighbouring houses. In summer neighbouring houses provide protection from low east and west sun.
- N-S sites on the south side of the street allow south facing living areas and gardens to be located at the rear of the house for privacy.
- N-S sites on the north side of the street should be wide enough to accommodate an entry at the front as well as private south facing living areas. Set the house back to accommodate a south facing garden.
- Sites running E-W should be wide enough to accommodate south facing outdoor space. Overshadowing by neighbouring houses is more likely to occur on these sites.
- A south facing slope increases the potential for access to southern sun and is ideal for higher housing densities. A north facing slope increases the potential for overshadowing.
- Views to the south are an advantage, as south is the best direction to locate windows and living areas. If the view is to the north avoid large areas of glass in order to minimise winter heat loss. West or east facing glass areas will cause overheating in summer if not properly shaded.
- On sites with poor orientation or limited solar access due to other constraints, an energy efficient home is still achievable through careful design. A larger budget may be required. Use of advanced glazing systems and shading can achieve net winter solar gains from windows facing almost any direction while limiting summer heat gain to a manageable level.
CHOOSING A HOUSE OR UNIT
- Look for a home which has good orientation or can be easily adapted for better orientation.
- Look for living spaces with good access to winter sun. South facing living areas and balconies or outdoor spaces are ideal.
- Look for a suitable area of glass on south facing walls with access to winter sun. As a general guide this should be 10-25 percent of the floor area of the room.
- Check that west facing glazing is not excessive in area and is properly shaded to prevent overheating. West facing walls receive the strongest sun at the hottest part of the day.
- Check that there is no significant detrimental over-shadowing by adjacent buildings and trees.
- Ensure that there is year round solar access for clothes drying a
and solar collectors.
COMMUNITY, STREETSCAPE & PLANNING
- Design and build a home that fits in and suits the existing neighborhood.
- Share or limit driveways if possible as this will allow for more landscaping providing a better environment.
- Gargages are best placed behind the house with access from rear lanes or streets. This improves the visual connection from the front of the house to the street increasing security.