Have you ever wondered why your friend pays less on his electricity bill? Regardless of whether you spend more time at home or not, the orientation of the house is a determining factor in energy savings. On average, a Spanish house consumes 9,922 kilowatt-hours (kWh).
If you are thinking of buying a plot of land or you already have the plot and are about to start building the house of your dreams, you are in time to see which orientation is best suited to your area. In the previous post we already told you some tips on how to save on your electricity bill. Now, you will discover how you can make the most of your house depending on the location in which it is located.
THE IMPORTANCE OF GUIDANCE IN A HOUSEHOLD
If you are already thinking about buying a house, orientation is one of the factors you have to take into account when building it. Apart from influencing the views you will have, it will also influence your energy consumption. It is estimated that a good orientation can reduce a house’s energy consumption by up to 70%.
However, there are areas that do not require much emphasis on the orientation of the house, as their climate allows for a versatile home. But, there are other areas where it is essential.
So, which orientation is ideal for our future home?
This answer is riddled with “it depends”. It depends on the location in which it is located, the tastes of the future owner, as well as the rhythm of life of its tenants. But, if we give the importance it deserves to optimise energy consumption, there are a few recommendations to make the most of solar radiation and the well-being that happens inside the house.
HOW DO I KNOW THE ORIENTATION OF A PIECE OF LAND?
Bearing in mind that the sun rises in the East and sets in the West, when it comes to knowing which orientation our house will have, we will be faced with four situations:
- If the sun rises in front of you: your home faces east.
- The sun rises behind your home: it faces west.
- If the sun rises on your right: your house faces north.
- If the sun rises on your left: you have a south-facing home.
Your home’s compass
North
If your house faces north, the sun’s rays will not fall directly on it. Thus, you will only be able to benefit from solar radiation during the early morning and evening hours.
However, it will receive direct sunlight during the summer months. This is a good option for people who want to have a cool place in areas such as the garage, pantry, etc.
One of the disadvantages of this orientation for homes on the Costa Blanca is that during the winter months you will have to invest in heating or good thermal insulation. With this, we will save around 30% of energy with doors and windows that insulate the busiest areas.
To make the most of the few hours of direct sunlight, you can install large windows in areas such as the dining room or bedrooms.
South
It is considered the hottest orientation for a house. It is a good option if the plot has a garden and/or swimming pool. Solar radiation is present throughout the day in spring, autumn and winter. In summer only in the central hours.
To avoid excessive expenditure on air conditioning during the hottest months of the year, it is advisable to install awnings and blinds where the most light enters. In this way, the temperature in these areas can be reduced by 2 to 3 degrees.
Therefore, this orientation is good for houses on the Costa Blanca, although it is necessary to take into account the electricity costs during the summer months.
East
In this case, the sunlight will hit the house from sunrise to the central hours, all year round.
In summer, the houses on the Costa Blanca will not suffer in the hottest hours of the day and the use of heating in winter will be limited.
Therefore, this orientation is one of the best for homes on the Costa Blanca, as there is no great energy expenditure and our home will have a thermal comfort during the 365 days of the year.
West
The house will receive direct sunlight from noon to dusk. Therefore, west facing properties do not accumulate heat during the day during the winter months and receive the strongest hours of sunshine during the summer.
If you have a west facing house in the Costa Blanca areas, you will need to insulate from the heat as much as possible in the hottest months. In addition, it is recommended that the bedrooms are on the north side of the house.
In winter, you will not notice a higher energy consumption, but in summer you will have to use a lot of air conditioning.
