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I know that there are a few horsey people or at least horse victims around here.
My wife wants me to build a horse shelter. I've been looking at them around here and they all have there opening to the east. For those that don't know they are basically small 3 sided sheds.
My question is why have the opening to the east? Solar passive design says have the opening to the north. If I do the north opening it'll be warmer in winter and still provide shade in the summer.
Chris
In our case it is because most prevailing wind/driven rain (what I remember of it) comes from the west/southwest.
They have a stable they use when they feel like it which opens to the south.
Having said that, I have seen some shelters with four sides except that the opening side has a wall that is only about 1.5m high and about a 1m opening for entry.
As Iain said, it depends on the direction of your prevailing winds.
The prevailing winds are from the south/south west.
You'll get equal protection from the south/south westerly with a northerly opening as a easterly opening.
Northerlies can mean hot winds which might heat the boxes up too much.
We always built ours easterly facing with a tree (when possible) about 4 feet from the open side. We also made them out of green poles and weathered slabs, with twisted #8 wire to hold it all together... Still standing after 20 years.
Pete
Horses are also inclined to stand with their heads poking out so they can see what is going on, so with the closed side into the wind they can still stand partly outside without getting wet.
They are nosey buggers and don't want to miss out on what is happening.
Prevailing winds in summer are from the SW. In winter, the North.
Face it east.