Lot Selection Part #4 - Orientation

Orientation:
Ideally you would like the east-west axis of the house within 15 degrees of due east-west. The best situation is to have the rear of the house facing south so you can take maximum advantage of natural lighting and can add solar equipment to the rear roof, which will be totally hidden from the street side. All Amaris built homes come “solar ready” for both solar voltaic and solar thermal systems. This is a fairly inexpensive event during initial construction that saves a major headache and future cost in the event you ever install solar down the road. In addition, a home properly designed on a south-facing lot can achieve passive solar heating in winter, but be shaded in the summer.

Most development designers do not give much thought to home orientation because developers are focused on maximizing the number of lots in the development. Designers are often rewarded by maximizing the number of lots in a new development. Oddly enough, south-facing lots may not always be at a “premium” because buyers have other priorities such as the lot size, trees, walk out lot, cul-de-sac, etc. Speaking about trees, a heavily wooded lot may not be the best option for several reasons.

The goal of a south-facing lot is to maximize natural light. If the southern tree canopy blocks winter sun, it defeats the purpose. Natural light is often overlooked by the vast majority of builders. In my view, natural light adds a level of comfort that is hard to fully appreciate until you have lived it. I feel less tired, have more energy, my electricity bills are lower and I think it even gives me a better attitude. In fact, some research reports that the lack of vitamin D may actually contribute to chronic fatigue and depression. Conversely, a dark and dingy home will add to electricity bills and may even affect your general well-being.

A heavily wooded lot can also cause premature failure of roof shingles; water problems if leaves are not cleaned from gutters; affect the foundation, sewer or drain tile systems with root systems; and possibly become a safety hazard from high wind or lightning events. Trees in close proximity to a home will contribute to bug infestations too.

Don’t get me wrong, I love trees but they need to be carefully planned. In summary, the south-facing feature of a lot is hugely important. Designing the home so that the majority of the living spaces receive natural light from southern exposure will make a huge impact on the comfort of the home, save you on monthly electricity and energy costs and reduce your maintenance costs.