The orientation of a house in South Africa is determined by the location of the sun. The sun’s position changes throughout the day, and its path changes during the year. A house should face east or west to allow for maximum sunlight to enter it, depending on whether it is winter or summer, respectively. A south-facing house will be warmer than a north-facing one because it will receive less sunlight and heat from solar radiation which will increase the inside temperature.
How does the climate affect the positioning of your house?
Therefore, Southern European countries have warmer climates and more sunny days than northern countries like Finland. In order for a house to be heated by solar radiation, it must be positioned proportionally in relation to the sun’s rays. If a house is shaded by trees or other structures, then it will not heat up from solar radiation alone. If there are no windows on that side of the house then it will not allow heat to escape. The greater the number of windows in a house, the greater its heat loss.
The roof is unnecessary for the prevention of heat loss- it does nothing to prevent heat from escaping from the house. If there are no windows or doors on that side of the house, then air can only flow in through one door and one window.
