Everyone wants to enjoy their conservatory all year round – whether the weather is hot or cold. As the UK mainly has a temperate and cool climate, making your conservatory energy efficient is important. Not only will it save money on energy bills, but it’ll ensure that you can enjoy being in your conservatory during some of the coldest times of the year, without excessively relying on electric appliances to heat up the space.
Conservatories lose most of their heat through their roof, which is why you should make sure that your roof is properly insulated. You can also ensure that your windows have A-rated double glazing, that thermal blinds are installed, and that cavity walls are filled. In this guide, we take a look at the various steps you can take to achieve an energy-efficient conservatory.
Are conservatories energy efficient?
Whether a conservatory is energy efficient depends on its construction, design, and the materials used to make it. Traditionally, conservatories have a reputation for poor energy efficiency because of their large glass panels that allow plenty of heat to escape. These large panes can also make them too hot in summer, and too cold in winter.
Proper insulation is very important – including that in the conservatory roof, walls, and flooring. This insulation should work alongside double glazing or triple glazing windows, and an efficient ventilation system to help regulate temperature and control humidity inside. If the windows are dressed with thermal blinds, this is another way to make a conservatory more energy efficient while avoiding heat build-up (but still letting light in).
Newer green heating technologies such as heat pumps are also a good way to make a conservatory more energy efficient while providing more comfortable temperatures.
Consider the conservatory’s location
If you are having a new conservatory built, its location should be a careful consideration, as placing it in a shaded area will also help its energy efficiency – keeping the heat in during the winter and keeping it cooler in summer. By keeping these factors in mind, and incorporating an energy-efficient design into the structure, a conservatory can be made greener and more cost-effective.
If you have an older conservatory, our team at Homebrite can advise on energy efficiency adjustments you can make to your current structure to help it become more energy efficient.
How to improve energy efficiency in your conservatory
Here are a few tips for a more energy-efficient conservatory:
Make sure you have proper insulation
The roof, walls and floor of your conservatory need to be properly insulated to prevent heat loss. This will especially help in colder months, when vital heat can be lost. It can also help to prevent your conservatory from overheating in warmer months.
You can use either foam insulation, or panels with insulation built in. Make sure to seal any gaps that appear around doors and windows, and check the condition of your insulation over time.
Get high-performance glazing
Double or even triple-glazed windows can help to retain solar heat from the sun and heat from electrical sources. They do this by reducing heat transfer through the window panes. Putting blinds on your windows can also help to provide additional insulation while preventing heat build-up during the day.
Have good air ventilation
Good ventilation will enable your conservatory to regulate its temperature more effectively. Roof vents and windows that can be opened for good ventilation and fresh air circulation will help to combat humidity and damp and regulate temperature control. This will place less reliance on electrical heating sources to warm up and dry the conservatory out in colder weather.
Install energy-efficient lighting
Reduce your energy consumption by installing energy-efficient LED light bulbs, and motion sensors or dimmer switches to control lighting more effectively. Having an energy monitoring system will also help you to analyse and track energy use in the conservatory based on occupancy.
The most efficient way to heat a conservatory
There are various ways you can heat a conservatory in an effective way while reducing energy consumption.
Underfloor heating
Underfloor heating is a great first step, as it can spread heat and distribute it across the floor of the conservatory, helping to keep it warm and dry in the winter months. Underfloor heating is more energy-efficient than conventional heating methods because you can have it at lower temperatures, while still keeping the room warm and cosy.
Heat pumps are another option that can be used alongside underfloor heating, and they are energy efficient because they provide several units of heat per unit of electricity consumed, helping to keep energy bills down.
Biomass boilers/pellet stoves
Biomass boilers or pellet stoves are renewable options that can be used to provide heating while being cost-effective. These options are renewable and can be very effective at keeping costs low. Another option is electric radiators, which can be adjusted to control temperature once they have heated up. Electric radiators also heat up quickly, allowing for temperatures to be adjusted promptly once a certain temperature has been reached in the conservatory.
Make the most of the sun
If you’re yet to build a conservatory, making the most of south-facing or large windows in your design and chosen position will help the conservatory to get the sun for most of the day. This will help to keep warm and will heat it naturally using the sun’s rays.
What is the most energy-efficient conservatory roof
A tiled roof on a conservatory can generally improve energy efficiency by providing it with better insulation properties compared to traditional glass or polycarbonate roofs. The tiles act as an additional barrier to help prevent the transfer of heat, which keeps your conservatory cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
Tiles on the conservatory roof also help to prevent heat loss, as each tile offers only a minimal area that is exposed to the elements outside (in contrast to larger surface areas like glass panes). This can help to keep the temperature inside your conservatory more comfortable and reduces reliance on cooling or heating systems, which can lower energy bills.
A tiled roof on your conservatory enables you to use it all year round, whatever the weather. You can choose from a wide range of stylish-looking tiles and full-length glazed panels, or solid tiled roofing. Request a quote and find out more about our tiled conservatory roofs here.