About Dudils

How Passive Solar Design Works

The key to passive solar design is the difference in sun angle between summer and winter. In winter, the sun sits low in the northern sky, allowing sunlight to stream deep into your home through north facing windows. In summer, the sun travels at a much higher angle overhead. A simple roof overhang or eave is enough to block the high summer sun while still letting the low winter sun in. This gives you free heating in winter and natural cooling in summer, without any mechanical systems.

This passive approach to heating and cooling can significantly reduce your energy bills. Homes that are oriented correctly and designed with proper eaves, insulation, and north facing glazing can be naturally comfortable for much of the year. It is one of the simplest and most effective ways to build an energy efficient home in Australia.

Find North Facing House Plans That Fit Your Block

Dudils is a home plan search engine built to help Australians find floor plans that actually work for their site. Enter your block width and depth, select which direction north is, choose which side the road and driveway are on, and we will show you plans that fit. No more scrolling through hundreds of plans that will never suit your block.

What Is a North Facing Home?

A north facing home is one where the main living areas and outdoor spaces are oriented towards the north. In Australia and the southern hemisphere, the sun travels through the northern sky. This means north facing rooms receive sunlight for the longest period of the day, especially during winter when you want it most.

It is important to understand that having a north facing site is not the same as having a north facing home. A well designed home can capture northern sunlight regardless of your block orientation, as long as the floor plan places living areas on the northern side. That is exactly what every plan on Dudils does.

Why Site Dimensions and Driveway Side Matter

Finding a good floor plan is not just about how many bedrooms you want. The width and depth of your block determine which plans will physically fit. A narrow 10 metre wide lot needs a completely different plan to a wide 18 metre block. Getting this wrong means costly redesigns or a home that does not suit the site.

The side of the block where the road and driveway are also matters. The garage and driveway need to connect to the street, and this affects where the living areas, bedrooms, and outdoor spaces end up. Dudils lets you specify all of this upfront so you only see plans that genuinely work for your situation.

Designing for Every Block Orientation

Not every block has north at the front. In fact, many Australian subdivisions have blocks where north is to the side or the rear. This does not mean you cannot have a north facing home. It simply means you need a floor plan that is designed for that specific orientation.

On Dudils, you can search for plans based on where north is relative to the street. Whether north is at the front, back, left, or right of your block, we will find plans with living areas oriented to capture northern sunlight.

Upload Your Plans to Help Other People Have Passive Home Designs

If you design or build homes with passive solar principles, upload your plans to Dudils so homeowners can find them. Uploading is free and takes just a couple of minutes. Once approved, your plans become searchable by anyone looking for energy efficient floor plans that suit their site. Each plan includes a do follow link to your website, helping people find good sustainable builders, architects and designers.