A north-facing residence receives sunlight from the rear of the house and is often darker and naturally colder than a south-facing property. However, a north-facing residence can have lighter rooms with more open floor plans if adequate insulation is used.
North-facing roofs are generally cooler in summer and warmer in winter than south-facing ones. Hot air rises, so hot surfaces will feel hotter than cold ones. This is called "latitude-dependence." At high latitudes, day length is shorter, so heat does not have as much time to escape. Windows should be kept closed as much as possible in order to reduce energy loss through cooling during warm days.
North-facing walls tend to be colder in winter and hotter in summer than south-facing ones. This is because they receive direct exposure to the sun's rays. During late fall into early spring, when the sun is low on the horizon, its light filters through the sky before it reaches the ground, causing it to rise higher in the atmosphere above the north side of buildings. This is called "photoperiodism" and results in lower temperatures during these times.
In very cold climates, such as that of northern Canada or Alaska, all exterior windows and doors should be made of glass or plastic.
A south-facing residence often receives the majority of the day's sunlight, particularly at the front of the house, and is thus brighter and warmer. Of course, a south-facing orientation is preferable. If you can't have that, at least choose a north-facing direction.
North-facing rooms tend to be cooler in summer and warmer in winter while south-facing rooms are generally warmer in summer and cooler in winter. However, any room with an east-west orientation, such as a hallway or living room, will receive some sunlight throughout the year. Therefore, all rooms in a house should not be assigned a specific facing when designing homes. It is best to include both north- and south-facing views in each room of the house to allow for natural light and heat gain/loss as needed.
The actual amount of sunlight that enters through a window depends on many factors such as the material used for the window, the angle at which it is placed in relation to the sun, and whether or not it provides shade for other windows. However, no matter what type of window is used, most dwellings will benefit from including both a northern and southern exposure. This allows for natural light and warmth during the day and reduced energy consumption at night.
1. North-south facing homes: A north-south facing home not only avoids direct sunlight during the day, but it also benefits from the current of the wind. These two variables work together to keep north-south facing units cool and ventilated all year. The primary advantage of a north-south orientation is that it allows for natural ventilation through the use of doors and windows. This means that occupants do not have to open up any mechanical systems to exchange air.
2. South-north facing homes: Homes with southern exposures receive direct sunlight during the summer months and lose heat in winter. They require heating or cooling to be comfortable. Southern exposures can cause house prices to rise because they are desired by few people and therefore be worth more. Houses with northern exposures tend to be cheaper because they meet more needs.
3. East-west facing homes: Homes with eastern exposures receive less sunlight than those with southern ones and are cooler in the summer. In the winter, however, they gain heat from the sun and become warmer than east-west oriented houses. Eastern exposures are less desirable than southern ones since they don't get as much sunlight during the day and at night time their exterior lights need to be switched off.
4. West-east facing homes: These properties experience high temperatures and low humidity in the summer, but they also remain exposed to the sun for most of the day.
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