In a slat house used for shading plants, the direction of the roof slats should be oriented in which direction?

In a slat house used for shading plants, the direction of the roof slats should be oriented in which direction?

• A. North-south
• B. East-west
• C. Diagonal
• D. Circular

Answer: (A)

Shading effectiveness comes from aligning the slat orientation with the sun’s daily path so direct sunlight is intercepted for the longest part of the day. In the Northern Hemisphere, the sun moves from east to west across the southern sky. Running the roof slats along a north–south axis creates a shading surface that blocks sun from morning through afternoon and casts shadows over the plant area as the sun travels, while still allowing ventilation through the gaps. If the slats were oriented in other directions, shading would be less consistent across the day and could let more direct sun reach the plants at key times. Diagonal or circular layouts aren’t practical for a fixed roof and don’t provide reliable, predictable shading.

Shading effectiveness comes from aligning the slat orientation with the sun’s daily path so direct sunlight is intercepted for the longest part of the day. In the Northern Hemisphere, the sun moves from east to west across the southern sky. Running the roof slats along a north–south axis creates a shading surface that blocks sun from morning through afternoon and casts shadows over the plant area as the sun travels, while still allowing ventilation through the gaps. If the slats were oriented in other directions, shading would be less consistent across the day and could let more direct sun reach the plants at key times. Diagonal or circular layouts aren’t practical for a fixed roof and don’t provide reliable, predictable shading.