Hello everyone,
We are expecting child number 2 and 3 next month. That’s why our current home will become too small, and we need to build. We plan to start construction when the children begin kindergarten. Nevertheless, I want to start thinking about it roughly now. We live in a rural area, and a plot of 1800 sqm (approximately 0.45 acres) with a slight south-facing slope is available (of which we want to build on about 900 sqm (approximately 0.22 acres)).
For a start, it’s important for me to know which rooms to orient towards the south. My idea is a bedroom facing south with a view over the valley (floor-to-ceiling windows). Waking up with the sunshine. That’s the theory; my concern is that later I might end up sleeping in something like a sauna. Do you have any experience with this?
PS: We were thinking of a KFW55-70 bungalow with Poroton 42.5 (brick thickness), but nothing is decided yet. Possibly a brine heat pump that might also provide cooling, and a canopy on the south side.
We are expecting child number 2 and 3 next month. That’s why our current home will become too small, and we need to build. We plan to start construction when the children begin kindergarten. Nevertheless, I want to start thinking about it roughly now. We live in a rural area, and a plot of 1800 sqm (approximately 0.45 acres) with a slight south-facing slope is available (of which we want to build on about 900 sqm (approximately 0.22 acres)).
For a start, it’s important for me to know which rooms to orient towards the south. My idea is a bedroom facing south with a view over the valley (floor-to-ceiling windows). Waking up with the sunshine. That’s the theory; my concern is that later I might end up sleeping in something like a sauna. Do you have any experience with this?
PS: We were thinking of a KFW55-70 bungalow with Poroton 42.5 (brick thickness), but nothing is decided yet. Possibly a brine heat pump that might also provide cooling, and a canopy on the south side.
Mycraft schrieb:
Well, ground source heat and roofing won't be particularly helpful for modern houses either.As I said, I am a layperson in this matter. But the sun is high in the sky on the hottest days, and a roof or overhang should provide some shade in the bedroom.
Ground source heat is often promoted because it can help cool.
If you have a cantilever or a roof overhang in front of the bedroom that provides shade, it might work.
Otherwise, I wonder why you would need the best view in the bedroom... You won't be waking up with the sun anyway, whether the room faces east or the shutters are closed.
Otherwise, I wonder why you would need the best view in the bedroom... You won't be waking up with the sun anyway, whether the room faces east or the shutters are closed.
M
MünchnerKindl20 Feb 2015 15:53Hello,
we will also have the bedroom facing south. We wanted the dining area in the east because we like the sun shining in during breakfast, and since the main part of the garden is located in the east, we can enjoy the garden view while eating. Also, since we didn’t want the bedroom facing the street or north, this arrangement made sense. I think having a nice view from the bedroom is very pleasant when waking up.
we will also have the bedroom facing south. We wanted the dining area in the east because we like the sun shining in during breakfast, and since the main part of the garden is located in the east, we can enjoy the garden view while eating. Also, since we didn’t want the bedroom facing the street or north, this arrangement made sense. I think having a nice view from the bedroom is very pleasant when waking up.
I also really like the view... and depending on when the shutters go up and when you get up, you either have sunlight or not.
However, the heat should not be underestimated, especially when the sun is high, the house gets a lot of exposure.
If the roof isn’t properly insulated or protected, the heat will sooner or later get inside the house... and if it were built according to today’s standards, the heat usually stays inside as well.
We also thought it would be fine at first, but by the second year, the air conditioner was needed.
However, the heat should not be underestimated, especially when the sun is high, the house gets a lot of exposure.
If the roof isn’t properly insulated or protected, the heat will sooner or later get inside the house... and if it were built according to today’s standards, the heat usually stays inside as well.
We also thought it would be fine at first, but by the second year, the air conditioner was needed.
In fact, summer heat protection is also a material property. Check out the heat protection characteristics on u-wert.net. If you register, you can also take a look at what kind of joule heat gain a south-facing window can cause.
However, I truly believe that with a proper roof overhang (summer: sun is high -> shade, winter: sun is low -> sun enters the bedroom) and shutters during midday, combined with some heat-retaining materials, you don’t have to give in to overheating in summer.
However, I truly believe that with a proper roof overhang (summer: sun is high -> shade, winter: sun is low -> sun enters the bedroom) and shutters during midday, combined with some heat-retaining materials, you don’t have to give in to overheating in summer.
We don’t experience heat buildup in the south-facing rooms. All the windows are triple-glazed, and the south side is insulated almost like a passive house (I started with the south side because I’m doing the facade myself). There are no roof overhangs and no exterior shutters. The temperature in the south-facing rooms is the same as in the rest of the house.
We recently installed a ductless split air conditioning unit in one of the rooms, powered by photovoltaics. Since all the rooms are open plan (without doors), this unit can heat and cool the entire floor. It should be very comfortable in summer, I assume. The unit was installed only in October, so I’m looking forward to seeing how it performs in summer. It cost less than 900 euros (about 900 US dollars) including full installation and commissioning, and I wouldn’t want to do without it anymore.
We recently installed a ductless split air conditioning unit in one of the rooms, powered by photovoltaics. Since all the rooms are open plan (without doors), this unit can heat and cool the entire floor. It should be very comfortable in summer, I assume. The unit was installed only in October, so I’m looking forward to seeing how it performs in summer. It cost less than 900 euros (about 900 US dollars) including full installation and commissioning, and I wouldn’t want to do without it anymore.
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