How Your Window Orientation Can Affect Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

For most homeowners, energy efficiency is a concept that they would probably have encountered before. It can have a significant impact on one’s electricity bills, and it is no wonder that many homeowners are interested in improving their home’s energy efficiency. Window design and type are often some of the most important factors that can affect how energy-efficient a home is. However, window orientation also has an important role to play and should not be overlooked. In this post, we examine the effect that your window orientation can have on your home’s energy efficiency.

Understanding Window Orientation

First and foremost, it is important to start by understanding what window orientation is and why it matters in home design. Broadly speaking, window orientation can refer to the direction that a window faces, and it can affect the amount of sunlight and, consequently, heat that is able to enter your home throughout the day and during different seasons. Thus, strategic window placement can enable you to optimise the amount of natural light your home receives depending on your needs, reducing the energy costs required for heating and cooling.

Choosing the Right Window Orientation

The effects that different window orientations can have on your home include:

• South Facing: South facing windows do not directly face the direction of the rising or setting sun and are thus able to provide consistent, indirect sunlight throughout the year. This makes them ideal for rooms or spaces in your home where minimal heat gain is preferred.
• North Facing: In Southern Hemisphere countries such as Australia, north facing windows generally allow more sunlight to enter during the colder months, reducing your heating and lighting needs in the winter. This is because of the sun’s lower position in the sky during these months, which allows more light to enter through north facing windows at an angle.
• East Facing: East facing windows face the direction of the sunrise and are thus ideal for capturing morning sunlight. This can be suitable for homeowners who wish to enjoy more warmth during the start of the day.
• West Facing: In contrast, west facing windows generally do not receive much morning sunlight. However, they are able to capture more sunlight during the later parts of the day such as in the late afternoon. Depending on your lifestyle habits and preferences, this might be more optimal compared to east facing windows.

Pick Your Windows with the Help of Experts

When it comes to choosing and installing windows, Valley Windows is the best in the business. Our experts have had decades of industry experience and are in the best position to advise you on how you can optimise your home’s energy efficiency with the right choice of windows. We also have an extensive catalogue of timber and aluminium windows in various styles and designs for you to choose from. Contact us today or visit our showrooms for a free consultation on your window needs!