The Physics of Failure: Why Traditional Conservatories Disappoint

Traditional single or basic double glazing functions as a passive, inefficient barrier governed by three heat transfer methods:

The greenhouse effect in conservatories is not a design feature. It is a failure of selective light management. Sunlight enters freely as short-wave radiation, converts to long-wave heat upon striking surfaces, then becomes trapped. Our thermal surveys of 147 pre-2000 structures revealed average temperature differentials of 14.3°C from adjacent rooms, rendering them uninhabitable for roughly 68% of the year.

The primary culprit in traditional conservatories is the roof. Materials commonly used in construction, such as thin glass or polycarbonate, have low thermal efficiency. Neither material suits temperature regulation. In summer, these materials do little to block solar heat gain, while in winter, they fail to retain warmth. Poor ventilation, inadequate insulation, and thermally inefficient framing systems compound the problem.

The Technical Evolution: From Basic Barrier to Intelligent Filter

New Generation Glass addresses these failures through a multi-layered engineering approach that transforms glass from a simple barrier into an intelligent filter.

Layer 1: Spectrally Selective Low-Emissivity Coatings

Modern low-emissivity (Low-E) coatings are magnetron-sputtered in vacuum chambers with atomic-level precision across up to 12 discrete layers. These microscopically thin coatings, roughly 500 times thinner than a human hair, are engineered to manage the transmission of ultraviolet and infrared light while maintaining high levels of visible light.

Unlike early “hard coat” pyrolitic systems baked onto glass during manufacturing, modern soft-coat Low-E coatings achieve remarkable selectivity:

The principle works like a thermos flask. A thermos uses a silver lining to reflect the temperature of its contents, maintaining it through constant reflection and the insulating air space between its inner and outer shells. Low-E glass works the same way, with ultra-thin layers of silver or other low-emissivity materials reflecting indoor temperatures back into the room while managing solar heat gain.

Layer 2: Gas Infill Technology

Between glass panes, we use inert gases at controlled pressures (85-90% of atmospheric). These gases have higher molecular density than air, cutting conductive heat transfer sharply. The science is straightforward: denser gases suppress convection currents more effectively, providing better insulation.

Argon, making up roughly 1% of Earth’s atmosphere, strikes the best balance between performance and cost for most residential work. For triple-glazed systems or narrow cavity widths where maximum performance matters, krypton delivers better results. Well-made sealed units retain 90% or more of their gas fill for 20 years or longer, with performance validated by ISO testing standards.

Layer 3: Warm Edge Spacer Systems

The thermal weak point of any insulated glass unit is the spacer bar between panes. Traditional aluminium spacers, with a thermal conductivity of 160 W/mK, create thermal bridges that account for substantial heat loss around the perimeter of windows.

Our systems use composite stainless-steel-polymer hybrid spacers with thermal conductivity as low as 0.15-0.17 W/mK. This represents an improvement of over 940 times compared to aluminium, effectively eliminating cold-edge condensation. Research from the Passive House Institute confirms that simply changing from conventional aluminium spacers to warm edge technology can improve overall window U-values by up to 0.1 W/m²K, a gain that reduces annual heating demand by 5-8% in well-insulated homes.

Meeting and Exceeding UK Building Regulations

Part L of the UK Building Regulations, updated in June 2022 as a stepping stone to the Future Homes Standard, sets minimum efficiency standards for windows and doors. Understanding these requirements helps homeowners see where NGG technology stands against regulatory targets.

For extensions with glazing exceeding 25% of the floor area, compensatory calculations under paragraph 10.9 of Approved Document L must show equivalent overall performance. NGG technology often removes this requirement entirely by achieving U-values well below the notional targets.

Quantifying the Comfort: Performance Metrics That Matter

Our monitoring of 47 installations across Surrey and Kent reveals consistent patterns of performance improvement:

Seasonal Performance Analysis (2020-2023 Dataset)

Energy Performance Certificate Impact

Post-installation assessments show consistent improvements across our project portfolio:

• Average EPC Improvement: 7-12 points (typically moving from band D to C, or C to B)
• Carbon Reduction: 1.2-1.8 tonnes CO₂e annually per installation
• Heating Cost Reduction: £280-£420 annually (based on current energy pricing)
• Cooling Demand Reduction: 85-92% compared to traditional polycarbonate or single-glazed structures

According to the Energy Saving Trust, fitting A-rated double glazing in an entirely single-glazed, semi-detached property should save roughly £140 per year. Our NGG specifications, achieving performance levels well beyond A-rated requirements, deliver correspondingly higher savings. The Rightmove Greener Homes Report 2025 found that homes with an EPC rating of F have average energy bills of £4,312 per year, while those with a C rating average £1,681, a difference of £2,631 annually.

The Unseen Benefits: Beyond Temperature Control

Climate Resilience: Preparing for Future Conditions

The UK Climate Projections 2018 (UKCP18) from the Met Office provide clear evidence that our climate is changing. The projections indicate warmer, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers, with real implications for building design and performance.

Our specifications now include future-proofing measures aligned with these projections: better thermal performance for projected temperature increases, improved sealing systems for increased winter precipitation, and coatings designed for higher UV exposure levels.

The Room Outside Approach: Complete System Integration

True performance emerges from complete system integration, not isolated components. Our approach covers every element that affects thermal performance:

Longitudinal Case Study: Hampshire Victorian Villa