Browse Forums Building A New House 1 May 15, 2017 11:50 am Dear members, I am looking at two blocks of land, one faces NOrth west, the other block is at the opposite side facing south east. Coming from northern hemisphere and never being lived in a house with yard in Australia/ sydney, i am not sure which orientation of the backyrad would be most energy efficient and keep the house and living warm during winter? Location is in Sydney North West suburbs Please suggest me what are the pros and cons of these two options Thanks Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: N-W vs S-E orientation of house/ backyard 2May 15, 2017 2:01 pm You definitely want the backyard to the north. That's where all the sun is, so you can have the sun-filled (and warmed) living areas opening onto your private space. That being said, the standard plan you have there isn't taking the best advantage of the orientation - ideally you'd mirror it east-west (try to avoid too much westerly sun in Sydney as it'll overheat your house in summer). Re: N-W vs S-E orientation of house/ backyard 3May 15, 2017 2:37 pm Great advice from algernon. For some general advice there is a post about orientation on my blog : http://anewhouse.com.au/2012/02/block-orientation/ The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair That laser level looks lovely! We bought one for less than a quarter of that price off eBay. It worked really well for us and it's still going now, five years later. After… 1 16711 It's possible but a soak well is usually much larger. Your 'soak well' only holds 424 litres when full. What is your soil type? Soak wells need sandy soils. 10 9000 Need advice on the backyard plan above. Should I excavate and cut all of the dirt to level with the house slab or semi-excavate as per photo above? Both left and right… 0 24860 |