Despite the current economic downturn homeowners are still looking to add space and value to their properties. Moreover, the slump in the housing market is spurring on the home improvement industry and conservatories are becoming increasingly popular.
When the first modern conservatories were being constructed in the 1960s one of their selling points was the idea that they could reduce overall household energy usage by passively collecting solar energy and reducing the need for additional central heating. Whilst this is certainly true in the summer, the use of such extensions in the winter months actually leads to a rise in net annual household energy usage.
Today, with the advent of the green age and the ever increasing desire to cut energy use, a number of energy efficient designs have sprung up. These actually allow families to use their conservatories all year round without worrying about the detrimental effect it is having on their heating bills!
One of the most important considerations in energy efficient design is the material the wall panels and conservatory roof tiles are made of. Building regulations stipulate that at least 50% of the conservatory wall be made of glass and seventy five percent of the roof be made of translucent material. At the same time, it is estimated that the heat loss through a square metre of double glazed glass is approximately six times the heat loss through a square metre of external wall over any given period of time.
There are, however, a number of solutions to this dilemma. Both the conservatory roof tiles and walls can be made of specifically designed materials that reduce heat transfer; keeping your conservatory cooler in the summer months and warmer through the winter. There are a number of specialist glass manufacturers in the market offering such solutions.
On a slightly different note, the Green Roof Tile Company has developed the Envirotile; a lightweight yet unbreakable tile that drastically cuts the carbon footprint of the roofing process. The Envirotile is approximately 80% lighter than conventional tiles meaning transport costs and related CO2 emissions are much lower. In addition, the Envirotile is created from recycled material that would otherwise end up in landfill sites and is completely recyclable at the end of its serviceable life.
When combining these sorts of considerations with careful planning and efficiency in mind, it is very possible to add an energy efficient conservatory to any home or even reduce the footprint of an existing one. In the long term this is only going to save on energy use and ultimately money, whilst adding value to the home!
When the first modern conservatories were being constructed in the 1960s one of their selling points was the idea that they could reduce overall household energy usage by passively collecting solar energy and reducing the need for additional central heating. Whilst this is certainly true in the summer, the use of such extensions in the winter months actually leads to a rise in net annual household energy usage.
Today, with the advent of the green age and the ever increasing desire to cut energy use, a number of energy efficient designs have sprung up. These actually allow families to use their conservatories all year round without worrying about the detrimental effect it is having on their heating bills!
One of the most important considerations in energy efficient design is the material the wall panels and conservatory roof tiles are made of. Building regulations stipulate that at least 50% of the conservatory wall be made of glass and seventy five percent of the roof be made of translucent material. At the same time, it is estimated that the heat loss through a square metre of double glazed glass is approximately six times the heat loss through a square metre of external wall over any given period of time.
There are, however, a number of solutions to this dilemma. Both the conservatory roof tiles and walls can be made of specifically designed materials that reduce heat transfer; keeping your conservatory cooler in the summer months and warmer through the winter. There are a number of specialist glass manufacturers in the market offering such solutions.
On a slightly different note, the Green Roof Tile Company has developed the Envirotile; a lightweight yet unbreakable tile that drastically cuts the carbon footprint of the roofing process. The Envirotile is approximately 80% lighter than conventional tiles meaning transport costs and related CO2 emissions are much lower. In addition, the Envirotile is created from recycled material that would otherwise end up in landfill sites and is completely recyclable at the end of its serviceable life.
When combining these sorts of considerations with careful planning and efficiency in mind, it is very possible to add an energy efficient conservatory to any home or even reduce the footprint of an existing one. In the long term this is only going to save on energy use and ultimately money, whilst adding value to the home!
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