Is Your Conservatory Eco-friendly?

There are a number of reasons why you may be asking if your conservatory is eco-friendly or not. 

Many of us are increasingly conscious about how we contribute to a worsening global climate, and the amount of energy we need to adequately heat our homes is a big part of our individual contributions to climate change. 

The other reason, especially with energy bills going the way they are, is that a more environmentally-friendly home tends to be a cheaper home to run! 

So before we get to how to make your home more eco-friendly, here are some quick questions you can ask to ascertain whether or not it already is:

Does your conservatory get too cold in the winter?

If your conservatory gets freezing cold in the winter, or if it takes too long to heat up, then that’s a good sign that it’s poorly insulated. This is bad for the environment, and for your wallet. 

Does it overheat in the summer?

If your conservatory gets baking hot in the summer, then that also suggests that too much light is getting in. Whilst this doesn’t sound like a problem in of itself, it’s a factor in why your conservatory also gets too cold in the winter months. Plus, efforts to cool the conservatory down, such as with fans or air conditioning units, use a lot of energy. 

Does your conservatory get damp with wet windows?

If your conservatory is regularly damp, or you have to wipe water off the windows from time to time, then that’s a telling sign that there could be cracks in which rain is seeping through, or condensation is building up. Both are signs that your conservatory could be leaking out heat, or isn’t properly ventilated. 

Is your conservatory draughty? 

Notice a bit of a chill emanating from the doors or windows when it starts to get cold outside? Draughty conservatories are bad for the environment, and your energy bills, as it means cold air can get in, and warm air from your heating can too easily escape too. 

How to make your conservatory more eco-friendly

The biggest change and most effective thing you can do to make your conservatory more eco-friendly is to invest in proper insulation. 

Traditional conservatory roofing materials, either glass or more commonly polycarbonate, are poor insulators. They let too much heat escape in the winter, and don’t block out the sun’s harmful rays in the summer, meaning your conservatory will overheat. 

There are a number of ways you can look to improve this. One option is to replace the existing roofing material with proper tiles. However, this is expensive and can require planning permission. 

The most cost-effective but long-term solution is conservatory roof insulation. This works by fixing multi-layered foil insulation to your existing conservatory roof structure, which is then finished with new PVC or fresh render. Not only does this help your conservatory to feel like a fully-fledged extension from the rest of your home, but it also traps in more heat. 

Away from the ceiling, you can also look to upgrade the windows and doors. Are your current conservatory windows double-glazed? If not, then this is definitely an area worthy of investment to help make your conservatory more eco-friendly. 

And your conservatory doors leading to the garden are a usual suspect when it comes to a space that leaks too much heat too. An older door, poorly fitted or with failing seals, will be contributing to a conservatory that’s not as friendly to your environment or your heating bills as it could be. 

So, where next? If you’ve identified that your conservatory isn’t as eco-friendly as it could be, and it has a glass or polycarbonate roof, then investing in proper roof insulation would be a fantastic next step to take.  Learn more about the benefits of conservatory roof insulation here.