Tips on Building Subtropical Homes

Outdoor Living

• One of the luxuries of living in a subtropical climate is the pleasant weather throughout the year. With a mild or even warm winter, residents are able to enjoy the outdoors year round. Planning a home design in these areas should take outdoor entertaining into consideration. Decks, pools, outdoor kitchens and ample outdoor entertaining and relaxation areas should be incorporated into the design when possible to make the home more suitable for an active outdoor lifestyle.

Windward Windows

• Natural air conditioning is an important part of home design in subtropical areas. In fact, wind is often used in lieu of air conditioning systems to cool homes. Even with air conditioning in place, it is important to design a home that takes advantage of the wind. Placing windows toward the most windward portion of the home will allow breezes to naturally cool the home and cut down on the need for expensive air conditioning.

  Convective cooling requires venting the home through windows or other forms of ventilation on the lower, windward sections of the home and venting it on the upper leeward sections of the home. This allows for cooler night air to push in through the windward windows and for hot air to exit through the leeward windows. This will lower internal temperatures and naturally keep the home more comfortable when heat is a factor.

Lots of Fans

• Homes built in a subtropical zone should include lots of ceiling fans. Keeping the air moving inside the home will reduce energy usage from air conditioning. Constantly moving air will remain cooler and less humid than stagnant air. Each main living area as well as all bedrooms should have fans installed.

Solar Power

• Subtropical regions generally enjoy large amounts of sunlight. This is ideal for the use of solar power. Homes should be equipped with solar panels on the roof to help power the home with renewable and sustainable energy. Solar power can be channeled into the home's electrical system, and the sun's heat can be used to provide hot water for water heaters and more.