The shape of a house is a significant factor in determining its potential energy-efficiency. The geometric shape limits how efficient the house is in conserving energy. That being said, the surface area of the home must be as small as possible, which leads us to the shape of a sphere.
Building a spherical house isn't very practical for most people. Nevertheless, if you want a highly energy-efficient home, have it designed to have the least amount of surface area. Fortunately, the better designed the house is in terms of energy-efficient shapes, the less construction cost because there will be fewer walls, foundations, and roofs in such a design.
Samples of Energy-Efficient House Shapes
The principle behind the energy efficiency of shapes revolves around heat gain or loss along the entire surface area. The process concerns maintaining the balance of temperature between outside and inside via thermal loss. If the weather is cold outside, the inside temperature will gradually try to come close to the outside temperature. Air circulation can also affect heat gain or loss of the house.
The less surface area, the less the structure will radiate the heat, and that equals less heat loss. So, let's look at the few of the most energy-efficient shapes for a house.
Dome: Dome-shaped houses are half spheres with their broadest area at the base. Structures lose energy in the corners. This shape features no corners, so winds pass smoothly over its surface resulting in little or no air pressure differences around the house. This streamlining leads to less air infiltration, which is crucial in making the house energy-efficient. Ventilation of air can be done most efficiently because it has no corners to cause air drag. This style allows for the maximum living space with the least amount of surface area. A dome also provides for natural air circulation, especially when there is a venting cupola at the apex of the arch. Warm air rises and is released without the need for fans.
Cube: This shape is what we usually see at most houses. It features the same length along all its sides, but despite it having four corners, it can still provide proper air ventilation but without the efficiency of a dome-shaped house. This shape is compact and allows reasonable energy-efficiency.
The more surface area versus the living area, the less efficient the structure will be. A house with an irregular shape by having dormers, bump-outs, turrets, or bay windows, is less efficient.
If looking to build an energy-efficient home - the general rule is the more compact and uncomplicated shape is the better.
For more information on building an energy-efficient home, contact Grayson Homes at 919-578-6222.
