A conservatory makes a wonderful addition to any home, offering a cosy retreat for you and your family come rain or shine. The space can double up as a dining area, second kitchen, or even a sun room. While many of us see a conservatory as a great way to open up our properties and add a little extra living space, an energy efficient conservatory can also save money as well as boost the value of your home.
The right material
Building a conservatory is a big undertaking. If you want yours to be energy efficient it pays to plan ahead, carefully picking out the right materials to suit your needs. Think long and hard about the form and design; this will aid you in determining how energy efficient (or not) your grand design will eventually be. Placement of the conservatory itself is also important: South facing structures will need to be well ventilated, whereas North facing ones might require a little extra heating in order to weather those cold winters.
Best in glass
The key component in almost any conservatory is glass, so choosing a good quality, energy efficient option is always a sound investment. Whether you’re building a whole new structure or seeking to make your existing conservatory more Eco-friendly, energy efficient glass has a host of great advantages.
Winter warmers
Energy efficient, double-glazed windows keep you nice and toasty during even the worst of winters, storing up heat to ensure you stay warm without the need for portable heaters and other artificial heat sources. Not only that, they can also cut down on your energy bills, saving your average detached home between £80-120 a year. Another unexpected benefit of energy efficient windows is their noise-cancelling properties: that’s right, as well as keeping heat in they keep sound out, making them perfect for anyone who has to put up with noisy neighbours.
Which glass is best?
Although polycarbonate alternatives to glass are available they are not as hard wearing as traditional glass, becoming cloudy and scratched as the years go by. Good, high-quality glass will give you an unimpeded view of your garden, let in plenty of natural light, and remain crystal clear for decades.
Glass U-Values measure the rate of heat loss, so the higher the value the more efficient your glass will be. And it’s not just values, energy efficient glass comes in many different forms, from reflective, to reinforced, so do your research and make sure you’re getting the right glass for the job before you bring the contractors in.