Gary Jones, business development director of Glevum Conservatories, discusses how the drive towards energy efficiency is affecting product development and how home owners and developers can design conservatories that are efficient, attractive and cost effective. “Although only voluntary at the moment, energy ratings are already feeding through to the conservatory market due to the possibility of incorporation within Part L in 2010. Whether this happens or not, it is generally acknowledged that conservatories are no longer simply an occasional space to be enjoyed in the summer but are more frequently being used as dedicated year round additional living spaces and this means extra comfort levels are required. “C rated windows are now common with A & B ratings easily achievable with insulated frames, coated glass and argon filled units. Increased insulation within floor slabs and dwarf walls are now commonplace along with economical heating solutions such as innovative aluminium skirting radiators and underfloor heating.” Simpson says that conservatories generally reflect their Victorian and Edwardian heritage. They are economic to design and construct with their modular and prefabricated components that come together on site and can be assembled within days. “Consistently in demand, the next generation of conservatories will reflect not …