Home orientation for optimal sun exposure

When we are looking for houses, one of the most popular criteria is sun exposure.

Is it better to buy a house or apartment facing south, north, etc.? How a house is oriented in relation to the sun can have an important impact on heating and cooling in addition to the sunny atmosphere that can bring a sense of well-being, comfort.

So it is important to take an interest if you are looking for a new apartment, a new house to buy or rent, or if you want to build your property.

The whole orientation may be important, but since a property has several walls, the most important thing is to think about the exposure of certain rooms, rather than an overall exposure.

Also, we need to know that the sun’s position in the sky also depends on other factors – like the time of year and location of your home.

So here are recommandations for your home rooms. (We can read this on clarum website)

• South-facing rooms allow most winter sunlight, but little direct sun during the summer
• North-facing rooms admit relatively even, natural light, and almost no unwanted summer heat
• East-facing rooms receive the most morning sun. Locating the dining room or breakfast nook on an east wall makes the most of light potential in the morning. It’s also a good place for a dense floor that can soak up some solar. Bedrooms with east-facing windows will be great for early risers, but terrible for people who like to sleep in.
• West-facing rooms collect early evening light. Because the sun is so low in the sky, west-facing windows get direct sunlight blazing through them. This makes them a bad choice for TV rooms, since strong light makes screens harder to see.

So, will you be using a compass on your next research visits?