People who live in glass houses (not in the proverbial sense)

We bought a house 18 months ago that has kitchen with large bifold doors, yes a lot of glass, opening on to the garden. We do have a table with a large parasol on the patio directly outside them to give us a bit of shade and to deflect the glare of the sun on days like these, it's very very hot today too hot to sit outside.

As some may already know, I live in my conservatory - no choice as the whole family is squeezed into a 3 bed semi - 4 adults 2 pre-school children. It is a big room so I have plenty of space in here, but obviously in this weather it is unbearable!! It does have air conditioning, which when on and people don't keep opening the doors, it is actually bearable - but being disabled and on a low income, I am dreading to see how much it is costing me!

I have tried to release equity to do works to the house to make it work for us all, including a proper roof and solar panels so that I can run the aircon for free at least, but no-one will lend on the house as it is of non-standard construction - I knew it was when I bought it, for cash, (Only house on the market I could afford anyway here) but had no idea that lenders will not touch them, and I do not understand why? It has stood here surrounded by hundreds of others, for 70 + years, (none have ever fallen down), on a huge plot backing on to the forest - even if the house did fall down (it is insured obviously!) the building plot alone would be £hundreds of thousands because of the area I am in! Crazy .... in the meantime I am sweating profusely and dehydrating in my conservatory feeling dreadful as I have done for weeks on end now !

You are onto something there Witzend. She has gone down the budget route and has one of those patio sun umbrellas up in her conservatory.

Maybe awnings would be an answer. You see so many in e.g. Med countries that invariably have very hot summers.

My neighbour has a conservatory right across the back of her bungalow. All the south facing windows and door at the back open into it and it makes the house impossibly warm on days like these.