2 Tips for Designing a Home That Makes the Most of the Weather Conditions in Your Area
When it comes to designing a home, a lot of time is spent deciding what materials, fittings and style the building will use. If you're planning to build a new home, then you've no doubt given all of these aspects a lot of consideration. An often overlooked yet equally important part of the design process is how the building will react and perform with the natural elements. Here are two tips for designing a home that makes the most of the natural weather conditions of your area.
1. Utilise the sunshine
There is a lot of importance placed on creating a home with low energy requirements. This involves designing a home that stays cool in summer and warm in winter without requiring vast amounts of electricity to do this artificially.
Adequate insulation plays a large role in this but designing your home to make the most of the sun's position throughout the year can also make a huge difference. Having windows that face north will ensure that your home receives the warmth of the winter sun when it's needed.
Structuring your home so that the external parts which will be hit with the force of the summer sun don't add unwanted heat to your home is also important. These areas should be thick, heavily insulated and have limited windows to help passively cool your home during hot weather.
2. Utilise natural airflow
Even during the hottest months, your home will be kept naturally cooler by effective use of airflow. You can make the most of even the slightest breeze to prevent hot air from building up in the interior of your home with the right building design.
The key to maximising airflow is the positioning of windows and doors. Make sure there are openings on every side of your home which will give you control over where and when outside air enters your home. This control can also be well used during the colder months, allowing sun-warmed air to be drawn in from different openings through the course of the day.
To get the best results when designing a home, using a professional building designer is the best option. Your home will look great and will also benefit immensely from the experience and knowledge a building designer has in regards to designing a home that takes full advantage of the natural heating and cooling benefits of the sun and the wind. For more information, contact a professional such as Bill Jacobs Pty. Ltd.