Kurt
2009-09-15 20:15:27
- #1
In my experience, the heating costs for a well-insulated conservatory (triple glazing, thick well-insulated profiles) are roughly in the range of a corresponding extension with an insulated brick wall. However, the solar gains are already included in that!
However, the costs for such a system are not insignificant either. I currently have only a 5x3m model in mind, which would be around 30,000 and is not maximally insulated yet (there would be even better panes). Foundation, shading, and automatic ventilation are not included yet (another 5,000-8,000). You can also equip the entire conservatory with a well-insulated roller shutter system that provides additional thermal insulation at night and can serve as shading during the day. Additionally, there are ventilation systems that use the heat from the conservatory during sunshine to heat the rest of the house, but that gets really expensive. There are hardly any limits upwards there.
With inexpensive conservatories, heating becomes expensive with year-round use.
If the conservatory should not be used as living space all year round, a lean-to greenhouse is enough. This is a conservatory that is placed in front of an existing patio door. Advantage: if not used, it still provides a place for potted plants and an additional thermal barrier. But in any case, a lean-to greenhouse should also be heatable, otherwise, no New Year's Eve party.
Underfloor heating is something very nice but not a must. If you only have underfloor heating, on very cold days you can experience an unpleasant "draught feeling" or "cold radiation" near the panes. That is why it is actually advisable for larger conservatories to additionally install radiators recessed in the floor or built as seating surfaces in front of the panes. Simple low radiators also do the job and are the cheapest solution.
However, the costs for such a system are not insignificant either. I currently have only a 5x3m model in mind, which would be around 30,000 and is not maximally insulated yet (there would be even better panes). Foundation, shading, and automatic ventilation are not included yet (another 5,000-8,000). You can also equip the entire conservatory with a well-insulated roller shutter system that provides additional thermal insulation at night and can serve as shading during the day. Additionally, there are ventilation systems that use the heat from the conservatory during sunshine to heat the rest of the house, but that gets really expensive. There are hardly any limits upwards there.
With inexpensive conservatories, heating becomes expensive with year-round use.
If the conservatory should not be used as living space all year round, a lean-to greenhouse is enough. This is a conservatory that is placed in front of an existing patio door. Advantage: if not used, it still provides a place for potted plants and an additional thermal barrier. But in any case, a lean-to greenhouse should also be heatable, otherwise, no New Year's Eve party.
Underfloor heating is something very nice but not a must. If you only have underfloor heating, on very cold days you can experience an unpleasant "draught feeling" or "cold radiation" near the panes. That is why it is actually advisable for larger conservatories to additionally install radiators recessed in the floor or built as seating surfaces in front of the panes. Simple low radiators also do the job and are the cheapest solution.