Conservatory considerations

If you have a conservatory, is it a pleasant place to be in the recent warm weather? Or is it more like a cooker than a conservatory right now?

One member of our Eco House Group asks the following question:

"I have seen several ads in magazines recently from firms offering to re-roof conservatories with a new type of glass  which keeps the conservatory cooler in Summer and warmer in Winter.  Has any one gone down this route yet and, if so, would they recommend it." 


Any answers to this question - or other suggestions that have worked well for you, or that you would recommend?

Either post a comment, or if you want to suggest something more detailed, email your response to wbecohouses@gmail.com to be posted here.

Summer Gathering May 2012

19th May 2012: DavidNC writes: West Bridgford had its Summer Gathering, and Transition West Bridgford had a stand. It's a kind of green festival, held annually in the Park, next to Central Avenue.
See: http://www.wbsummergathering.co.uk/ for a news report.
Although the weather was cold and overcast, it stayed dry and something like 2000 people visited during the day.

The Transition stand was mostly to do with house improvement and WB Ecohouses. We were telling people about the building case study visits on the 20th and 27th May, which included the Peveril Solar house (PV and Surya heat pump technology), the Harms house (external insulation of a 1920s house) and the Holt house on 27th (extensive low energy refurbishment of a 1950s house). There is still a chance to sign up for this one.