As we mentioned in Part I, we were in the process of creating a “green” conservatory for a client.
A laundry list of issues had to be explored and dealt with for the final design.
Glass was the first big subject. Tremendous research and technology has been introduced to the glass industry in the last few years. More strict energy codes and consumer demands have resulted in the consumer being able to achieve nearly anything they want the glass to do.
In this case, efficient glass but plant loving glass was the challenge. Living plants thrive on certain spectrums of light. The trick was to design the glass to hit the necessary light spectrums. Once done, the necessary thermal glass was specified and added to the design. More information on plant loving, thermally efficient glass can be obtained by chatting with your ConservatoryCraftsmen representative.
We all knew that on any sunny day in the winter, the conservatory would heat itself. How is this heat going to be retained, to be re-distributed during the night time hours.
“Plants are like people,” Jerry Baker used to say. This is not always the case. Nighttime winter temperatures for plants that are in the 50’s Fahrenheit are ideal. Too much heat without enough daylight makes plants long and stringy.
In-floor hydronic heat tubes are being installed, which in the future, will hook up to solar collection panels and supplement with the high efficiency boiler to heat the floor. In the meantime, in-floor electric wires are to be installed to use the ‘off grid’ electricity to warm the floor and the plant roots. A base board heater is also installed in case of severe cold back-up.
The original stucco wall of the conservatory is to be retained to work as a’heat sink’ and store energy. In addition, one foot diameter, floor to ceiling water tubes will be filled with colored water to hold heat and slowly radiate that energy at night and create the effect of a Trombe wall. Contact us for more information on this green conservatory.
To see how these tubes work, and also how they can be used to make a solar chimney to cool your conservatory in the summer contact us.
Finally, dark tile will be installed on the floor to further absorb and radiate heat through the winter.
Energy saving and efficient blinds will be installed on the windows, so in the winter they will work to hold heat into the room. In summer, during the day, they minimize heat build-up. Thermostatically controlled roof vents will also release heat through the roof, when heat builds up in summer months.
A ceiling fan will be installed to keep air circulating, and not allow stagnant air to condensate on the windows and sills.
How is Paula planning to raise her vegetables? December 3rd, 2008 | Category: Green Conservatories