I'm not an expert but logic tells me that walls and ceilings that can be insulated makes sense in a climate that is very cold in winters and hot in the summers (plus heated floor). Not to say you can't have very large energy efficient windows and skylights for your views and to let lots of sunshine in.

You need to worry about 'thermal breaks' between framing, inside to outside of the structure, to make your heat transference minimal. Radiant heat flooring... automatic venting. Good low-e glass panels. There are also retractable shades and blinds that are somewhat insulative, that can be installed.

Another worry is if you are in 'hail country' in which case during that season you may have to use protection such as outside shutters or hail netting.

Search through Houzz with Find A Pro, or go to your yellow pages. I know of several of the architectural conservatory builders but they are east coast.... if nothing else call a local architectural firm and ask them if they can recommend someone.

Get references. A properly built one, will be a major asset to the 'liveability' of your house. Return on investment isn't so great however. Put one on your house because YOU want it.

I am working on building greenspaces but it is not adding it to my house.

What is your budget? How much can you afford? Are you aware of you may not get anywhere near what you put into it out of it when you go to sell?

I love conservatories but they can get very hot, and you need to keep the glass clean,so do you really want a glass roof? Maybe just glass walls would do the trick?

Let's assume your basic home has the proper architecture and you have the budget to do a great conservatory. Since you will be placing it on the south, the first thing that I can suggest is that you evaluate your heating and cooling to see if your current system is large enough or can be upgraded to handle the extra load. Does it make sense to heat and cool a space that will reach extremes all day and all night?

If not, placing the conservatory on the other side of several french doors as a separate space to treat for heating and cooling systems is a good idea. Then, you want to consider heating and cooling strategies for it - under flooring radiant heat for a stone or tile floor is a good option since a conservatory is likely for day use. Operable venting windows near the top and those that draw in from below are great for spring and fall and cooling it down at night. A separate cooling system if you don't want a greenhouse / hothouse full of steamy botanical plants would then be in order, but the individual units are nicer looking and quieter than they used to be - sized properly, a trio of those might have your sunroom cool as a cucumber on a hot day. The entire purpose of the space is to take the sun . but . . the best thing for it in summer is a little shade at the right time of day . . . you might plant a tree as you plan or plan this in the footprint of the shade of a deciduous tree placed where the 2 o'clock summertime sun is hottest . . . . use some passive cooling that adds to the garden experience. Flooring should be carefully considered for passive solar / hvac effects. Stone or tile or even the driveway pavers laid with no joints can moderate as they will store the suns heat during the day and radiate it out at night yet the material will cool the matrix in the summer quite a bit.

In most parts of Australia, conservatories are not needed, and can make interiors hotter. Might work in Tasmania.

yes chook, conservatories as much I love them, can get too hot here. I love big windows and a garden outlook but I think walls of glass are enough, skip the glass roof.

how about planting several large, deciduous trees to provide shade in the summer months, yet allow the winter sun in?

It depends on your lot size and your sun angle in warm months. Here we get pretty close to overhead in the summer, so anything to the south doesn't help, but westerly trees do. BUT. Trees take awhile to grow. Also you have to be careful on shape and size of a mature tree, and if there's something in your area that will attack them. Here we have 'borers' of all sizes, shapes, descriptions; and a lot of trees get attacked. Spray Spray Spray...

Consider a sunken conservatory; they can be lovely yet easier to keep energywise...
http://www.inspirationgreen.com/pit-greenhouses.html

half to three quarters down, they show some built in conservatory type spaces added to houses; that are more energy efficient year around. Do NOT click the onepinkhippy link, they have been attacked and you will be assaulted by malware.

Thanks, I've had mixed opinions on whether it can be done without creating a hot house in summer and a freezer in winter. My contractor agrees with your posts and suggested to me putting in skylights - but I hear they leak.

Our house has a southeast facing sunroom which is what sold me on the house. We live in SE Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia. It is my favorite room in the house by far. I am not sure if the previous homeowner or contractor/architect planned it or not but the orientation of the room is fantastic. During the winter, the surrounding deciduous trees lose their leaves and the angle of the sun allows light to warm the room. The westerly side of the room is largely shaded by a huge pine tree which keeps the room shaded yet bright in the summer. We do not have skylights in that room and I think it would get too hot in there during the summer. My mother has a garden window with a glass roof and the green growth on it would drive me crazy and require constant cleaning (for me anyway). We have a suntunnell in a windowless bathroom that we LOVE. It was installed by the manufacturer and has never leaked - they guarantee it.

The house sits on three acres on a lake. Budget is not as big a concern as overbuilding for the neighborhood. As a result the room would not be bespoke.

You can solve all your concerns by making sure the correct glass make up is used in the system. LoE coatings and triple glazed options. Glass technology over the last five years has increased tremendously.

Hi! Go to www.conservatorycraftsmen.com. I attached a picture of the owners conservatory, in Minnesota, that faces south. You should give him a call for some advise!

Conservatory update. All the trees near the house had to go for reasons not related to the conservatory. One was Ash and got hit by lightening and was slowly dying, The other had surface roots and was invading the foundation. I am going with a Georgian Conservatory, aluminum frame, with the low e/argon glass and a separate unit for heating and cooling. I al also putting in an electronic sky light for ventilation. My plans got put on hold because my parents got sick and have since passed, but we are now back on track and the deck has just come off with the foundation pour to occur within the next month. Thank you everyone for all your help.

Just put heating in for winter and switch it off in summer. simples

also self cleaning glass if it works

i would take advantage of passive solar design strategies to get all your winter sun and block out your summer sun.

this means it's not a 'solarium' anymore, but ends up functioning much more effectively.

Sounds wonderful!

gtcircus - I know this thread is old but I’d love to hear more about your experience and what company you used. I’m in the middle of researching having a conservatory added to our house (instead of a “regular” den addition) and I’m also VERY concerned about the heating/cooling. I’m in Michigan.

We are also in the process of building one . Beautiful windows purchased but we will have a normal roof. My son is adding this to a vacation rental which does not have a dining room. The newest system of mini splits eg4 incorporate solar down to 5degrees external temp.