The direction your house faces matters?

Looking for some seasonal science help. My 5th grade science confidence is a little rusty :-/

I have a country friend tell me something that sounds amazing. From my understanding of seasons, it also makes sense. But I want to bounce it off ya'll. Bc I'm not sure. I've lived in suburbia most of my life and this isn't something I ever really thought about before.

I have property that is aligned so that the street is to the north (almost exact). It is a 10 acre forest. There is a ~2 acre meadow in the middle of that.

My country friend says that I should build the house in the meadow against the forest on the North side. In this way the big back porch will be in the shade in the summer and in the sun in the winter. Additionally, I would benefit from the warmer winds coming up north from the south in the winter and the cool north winds in the summer. He says it is "ideal" scenario I have available.

Dumb luck I call it. But is he right? Can someone confirm for me?

Thanks
P

 

making that sort of comparison how my house is situated and where i am , i can see where your friend is coming from. probably due to the fact the sun will be travelling a more northern orbit , it makes sense youd get the sun on the back more in winter. i isnt know genius, so take my thoughts accordingly.

guy

 

Yeah, very likely true. I flunked algebra so I can't think about it too good without drawing a map right now. I know what he means though. For sure, look into it before building.

 

I know where I live that the western part of your house will always be hotter. I think his logic is solid.

 

look up passive solar heating principals - southern facing house with large overhangs protect from the hot sun in the summer and allows the most light in the winter when the sun is lower in the sky.

I believe your friend is correct, but your architect should be able to confirm and explain why.

 

Makes sence to me. I just never would have thought about it upon building a new house as I designed and built ours but I made mine in a manner that looked good for the 5 acres we have.

 

It's definitely a good idea to talk to the architect. This principle is used when building houses to save on energy costs, I'm just not sure that the north is the right place.

 

Your friend is correct. The suns' axis is slightly North in the summer and due South in winter. The prevailing wind patterns depend on where you live. In general weather travels West to East.

 

thanks for the feedback folks. appreciate it. I will be talking to architect, once I have one.

We've been looking at these existing floorplans... meh. I think we'll hire an architect our selves.

Coincidentally, I am reading the fountainhead right now...

Anyway, this has been helpful. Also, being Houstonish (closer to Cleveland/Conroe with this property), I think most of our wind comes from the Gulf of America - so kind of from the SE.