astronomy question?

Question

Why would homeowners prefer a “southern exposure” (i.e. large windows
on the south side of the house) in the U.S. but a “northern exposure” in Australia?

Answer 1

Shadows

Answer 2

If you want to build a passive solar or sun-tempered house so that you can take advantage of the heat of the sun for warmth in winter, then you face the large windows toward where the sun will pass low on the horizon and shine in the windows.

In the northern hemisphere, that means facing them south; the reverse is true in the southern hemisphere.

If you are clever, you can arrange the roof overhang so that the roof shades the windows when the sun passes high overhead in summer.

Try an internet search on "passive solar design."

Answer 3

If you look at the Sun at midday on every day of the year in the northern hemisphere, it will be in the southern part of the sky (not directly overhead).

Likewise, if you look at the Sun at midday on every day of the year in the southern hemisphere, it will be in the northern part of the sky.

This is due to the ~23 degree tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation. I guess the homeowners want to have well-lit rooms.

Answer 4

Shadows