1. Building Orientation

2. Orientation What compass direction the building faces
Directly south, 80 east-northeast
Along with massing can be the most important step in providing a building with passive thermal and visual comfort
Orientation and massing cannot be optimized without the other

3. Orientation
Measured by the azimuth angle of a surface relative to true north
Successfully the building is rotated to maximize free energy from the sun and wind and minimize energy loads
Can also take advantage of other site conditions, such as rainwater harvesting driven from prevailing winds

4. For Visual Comfort Oriented east to west rather than north south
Consistently harness daylight and control glare along the long faces
Minimize glare from rising/setting sun
With cutouts to maximize daylighting you should try to also max N/S walls
Can also provide their own shading

5. Orientation for Thermal Comfort: Solar Heat Gain
Similar to orientation for daylighting with some exceptions
Amount of sunlight that is optimal for daylighting is often not optimal for solar heat gain
Sun’s heat does not come from all directions like the light does
Heat can be stored via thermal massing
Useful for west facing walls to store heat at night

6. Buildings longer than they are wide should be oriented east-west rather than N-S
Lets you consistently harness thermal gain or avoid along the long face of the building
Also minimize the area that’s subject to faster energy swings from rising/setting sun
Solar heat gain can be useful in the am on the east side, not on the west side after a warm day

7. Glazing and Materials on Diff Faces
Part of a building’s orientation
Unlike daylighting they can store the sun’s heat with thermal mass
Equator facing sides are well suited to capture and store the sun’s heat via large windows and materials with high thermal mass

8. To even out temp swings at sunrise/set east sides may have more windows for direct solar heat gain
West side may benefit from smaller windows and high thermal mass to absorb heat and release it at night (depends on the climate)

9. In cold climates sides facing away from the sun will benefit from more insulation than sides
Opposite is true for warm climates

10. Natural Ventilation
Oriented to maximize the benefits of cooling breezes in hot weather or shelter from in cold weather
Look at the prevailing winds for your site through the year using the wind rose diagram

11. Ventilation
Orienting the building with the shorter axis aligned to the prevailing wind provides the most ventilation
Perpendicular provides the least passive ventilation

12. Ventilation
Do not need to face directly into the wind to achieve good cross ventilation
Design to channel air through the building
Look at site obstructions that may affect the directions
A courtyard where cooling is desired should be at 45 from the prevailing wind
Maximize wind in the courtyard and cross ventilation through the building