Conservatories and domestic heating

Abstract

Passive solar gains to buildings in North European Climates can be significant and an investigation is made into the effect of orientation upon solar gains based upon known weather data. The conservatory is a particularly useful collector because of its inclusion to existing houses and its desirability to the householder for reasons other than solar collection. A conservatory was adapted and monitored. A computer model was written. The behaviour of the conservatory was examined for various criteria. The possibility of inclusion of a conservatory into houses in the existing housing stock was examined. The effect of occupancy on heating demand and solar delivery was reviewed and the likely overall energy saving was examined. A new house system was developed including the use of a first floor concrete slab and a gas warm air heating unit. A concrete floor slab was cast to examine its storage potential. A preliminary design for the heating system of the new houses was undertaken.