Designs That Work
Hot-Humid Climate
The Basic House - Siting and Orientation
The choice of an appropriate building site is an important first step
in constructing the affordable, high-performance house described in this
package.
In selecting a site, priority should be given to urban lots with
existing service infrastructure, access to public transportation and
mature neighborhood amenities. The next best choice would be a lot in a
responsibly-planned new development. In either location, the building site
should be chosen for good solar access, with consideration given to
orientation, slope, existing or potential overshading, and lot
proportions.
Figure 3: Site Plan Diagram
The site plan above shows an area for installing solar thermal or
photovoltaic panels on the south face of the house rooftop that will not
be shaded by neighboring buildings. Large roof overhangs shade the walls
and windows of the house to reduce the summertime cooling load. The garage
is located towards the rear of the property to provide an additional or
alternate location for PV panels.
In a Hot-Humid climate, landscaping should be arranged to shade the
house from early morning and peak afternoon sun further reducing the
energy needed to cool the building. Note that the shading should not
extend over any part of the solar panels (PV), as a small amount of
shading can significantly reduce their output. Well placed trees and other
planting can create a cool microclimate around the house.
In flood zone or coastal areas, all floor levels need to be built above
the flood plain and extra attention should be given to the grading of the
site to ensure that water is carried away from the house. |
