HOUSE SHAPE THAT IS THE MOST ENERGY-EFFICIENT
In deciding its potential energy-efficiency, the shape of a house is a major factor. The geometric shape limits how effective energy conservation is in the building. That being said, it is important that the surface area of the home is as minimal as possible, leading us to the form of a sphere.
For most people, constructing a spherical house isn't very practical. Nevertheless, have it built to have the least amount of surface area if you want a highly energy-efficient home. Fortunately, in terms of energy-efficient shapes, the better built the building, the lower the cost of construction since there would be fewer walls, foundations, and roofs in such a design.
Samples of Energy-Efficient House Shapes
Across the entire surface area, the theory behind the energy efficiency of shapes revolves around heat gain or loss. Via thermal loss, the system concerns preserving the temperature balance between outside and inside. The indoor temperature will eventually begin to come close to the outside temperature if the weather is cold outside. Air circulation can also impact the house's heat gain or loss.
The smaller the surface area, the less heat would be radiated by the structure, and that means less heat loss. So, let's take a look at a couple of the most energy-efficient house shapes.
Dome: Dome-shaped houses with their widest area at the base are half spheres. In the corners, frameworks lose energy. This shape has no corners, so winds flow smoothly over its surface, leading to little or no changes in air pressure around the building. This streamlining results in less air penetration, which is key to the energy efficiency of the building. Air ventilation can be achieved most effectively because air drag is not caused by corners. For the least amount of surface area, this design allows for an optimal living room. A dome also provides for the circulation of natural air , especially when at the apex of the arch there is a venting cupola. Without the need for fans, warm air rises and is released.
Cube: In most homes, this shape is what we normally see. It has the same length along all its sides, so it can still provide proper air ventilation despite having four corners, but without the efficiency of a dome-shaped building. This shape is lightweight and makes energy efficiency fair.
The more floor space relative to the living space, the less functional the structure would be. A house with an irregular shape is less effective because it has dormers, bump-outs, turrets, or bay windows.
