South-facing attached sunspace / solar greenhouse

Glazed buffer capturing solar heat, distinct from a north buffer, can offset a large share of heating demand.

Cost
Medium
Upkeep
Occasional
Skill to build
Intermediate
Lifespan
Matches glazing/structure lifespan of the attached space (a form choice using standard glazed-structure components)
Embodied carbon
Medium
Space / material use
High
Output timing
Weather/time-dependent
Skill to repair
Basic

Note: Cost, carbon and footprint are rated against the other options for this same need, not in absolute terms.

What your site needs

A genuine south-facing aspect and space for an attached structure

Inputs

Outputs

What this page does not tell you

No sizing or quantities: how much a technique yields, and how much a household needs, both depend on the build and the people, so the catalogue compares options rather than dimensioning them. It carries no bill of materials and no build sequence, and it is written for an oceanic, clay-soil climate (Normandy, France). Regulatory notes are indicative and need confirming locally.