Homes built today seem very similar across the entire country. But those popular designs are not necessarily the most efficient for where you live. Homes on Cape Cod were once designed to shelter from the harsh winds and rain. Homes in Arizona were built to be cool in the day and warm at night. Homes in the south were designed with windows and doors under big porches that optimized cooling breezes moving through the house. Standardized designs favor cost efficiency and the latest trends over climate. Construction materials and techniques have certainly improved over the years, but home design has moved toward visually popular and away from being climate efficient.