Santa Barbara Construction – Planning Your Building Site
Charlie Reeder
When you’re building on a new location or simply creating an addition onto your home, it is important to consider the positioning of the structure. Specifically what direction it is facing in relation to the movements of the sun and wind patterns. This will give you the maximum benefit of sun exposure and shelter from winds to reduce your heating and cooling costs throughout the years. These energy costs over the long run completely outweigh the initial building costs of any project. So it is well worth the planning and consideration in the beginning before you carry out your plans. Santa Barbara prevailing winds typically come from the ocean side and run directly up the hills from a west to east pattern. While this is not entirely consistent, it is the general pattern of our area and the best to plan for. Of course, you’ll want to study your own property for variations and make adjustments (say if you live in a valley or in a dip in the land, wind patterns may swirl or shift). So how could you use this to your advantage when positioning your home?This all really depends on your personal preference and how the landscape of the property is. Obviously if you have a gorgeous view of the ocean then you will want your home to face in that direction. But it is also important to consider the placement of doors and windows for ventilation during the warmer summer months. Hilltops and higher elevations have more exposure and will have more drastic temperature changes than valleys. The slopes that face the prevailing winds (facing west) are going to be much cooler than those facing east. Ideally, you would want to position your structure to be protected from the winds by being positioned behind a hill so the winds travel up and over your location. Windows and doors should face on the north and south sides so that you can get a gentle cross breeze throughout your home. Doors that face west will get the full brunt of the winds and the east facing doors will be much cooler during the majority of the day. Since we do see strong winds throughout the year, it may be beneficial to place your main door on the east side of the house where it will see the least exposure to winds.In considering the motions of the sun, you will also want to position your building to give you warmth during the day without being overexposed. As the sun transitions from east to west, the most intense heat occurs when the sun is at its highest during midday. Homes that face east will get early morning sun which is warming and not overly intense. Those that face west will see the hot afternoon sun and result in a much warmer house. Buildings that face north are typically colder since they see less sunlight than those which face south and see sun the majority of the day. Overall, the best direction to face your structure would be east or southeast (unless you have a ghastly sight you would rather ignore in that direction). This will give you the least wind exposure and the gentle morning sun form warmth. Unfortunately, that is not in the direction of the breathtaking views that Santa Barbara is renowned for. Energy saving is not confined to a building alone. How you use your land through landscaping along with the positioning of the buildings and improvements will save your energy costs over the long term. These decisions made intelligently can enhance the life of your home and the living style that you desire.
We are a local, licensed and insured contractor serving the Santa Barbara, Goleta and Carpenteria area. If you would like more information on Santa Barbara construction or need a building contractor feel free to check us out on our website www.constructionsantabarbara.com
