| So you want to build a house, or have one built either | | | | to wear a woolly coat to keep warm. |
| as an owner builder or by a contractor. You have | | | | So what is the first step in house design? This is the |
| spent hours and hours going through house plans to | | | | step that most people leave out. They see a house |
| find the one you like. Or you have been a bit innovative | | | | design they like and plonk it on a block of land and |
| and designed a house yourself, just the way you want | | | | move in and wonder why something is not quite right. |
| it. You have taken the best ideas from all the house | | | | The steps are back to front. You must have a block |
| plans you have seen and changed and added and | | | | of land first and then design your house to suit that |
| taken bits out and moved bits around until you have | | | | particular block. If you have a house design that you |
| the perfect house plan. It better be perfect because | | | | must have then it pays to find some land that is |
| you will be living in it and probably for a long time. | | | | oriented the right way to suit that house. What do we |
| There is a sense of satisfaction having your house | | | | mean by oriented the right way. Get out your |
| admired by your friends and being able to tell them | | | | compass and check out the sun. If you can sit your |
| that you designed it yourself. | | | | house to take advantage of the rise and setting of the |
| Remember, you do have to live in this house so make | | | | sun you will be surprised at the difference it will make. |
| sure you have got it right. The house design can mean | | | | If you are in a warm climate you want the sun coming |
| that your house is comfortable and functional to live in. | | | | into your bedrooms and kitchen early morning and then |
| It can mean you will be paying less or a lot more in | | | | you don't want to see any sun coming in to your |
| heating and cooling costs. Not much good designing a | | | | house in the heat of the afternoon. Likewise if your are |
| beautiful looking home if it is like living in a sweat box | | | | in a cooler climate you can design to see maximum |
| and you have to spend a fortune on air conditioning. | | | | sun throughout the day and reduce your heating costs. |
| Likewise, your house could end up like you are living in | | | | There are lots of methods to capture solar heating |
| an igloo and you are spending a fortune in heating | | | | which is free and ways to use the sun in solar cooling |
| costs. This is the major consideration when designing | | | | systems. The sun is a free resource. It can be so |
| your house, your comfort. You want to be | | | | beneficial if we use it right and a real pain if we don't. |
| comfortable living in your house and later on when it is | | | | Do some reading on passive heating and cooling. You |
| time to sell you will get far more selling a house that is | | | | will get some great tips to design your house so you |
| comfortable to live in. If you like to wonder around the | | | | can live in it. You might as well be comfortable. |
| house in your PJs you will not be comfortable having | | | | |