Build your new house where the land works FOR you.

Architectural Building Orientation by CS Custom Structures, Inc.

Prior to the early 1950s, much more consideration was given to the placement of a home on a building site. This was before conditioned homes when homeowners relied on wind breaks, shade trees and hills to provide some relief from hot summers and cold winters.

There are many things to consider when placing a new home on a building site. Panoramic views are important, but they certainly can’t help save costs on energy bills.

Issues that should be stressed with clients to save energy costs include large expanses of thermal glazing along southern exposures to warm the house in winter. It is also important to consider shading features for these windows to cool the southern exposure in summer. Covered porches and large shade trees can easily reduce midday temperatures by 20 degrees or more.

If the site is wooded then construction should minimize disruptions, leaving as much vegetation as possible. Trees serve as wind breaks as well as shading elements. It is preferable to build a home into a hill rather than on top of a hill.

Building orientation to help warm the home in winter, cool the home in summer and reduce wind gusts, year-round, along with other energy efficient techniques and products, are good examples of how the design of a home can save on energy costs.

Water Has No Substitute

Water. While I sit and fill up my Eco-Friendly, high-style SIGG, Swiss designed aluminum water bottle that is BPA free, has 0 percent leaching and contains no phthalate ingredients, dare I think about where the water that's going inside the container came from? The National Geographic Folks say to "Know the source of your drinking water—the river, lake, or aquifer that supplies your home. Once you know it, you’ll care about it." Read on and take some hints from the geographic specialists... I did.