JHH

Thanks for your prompt response. Do you have any experience of air to air units like the ElectriQ 10000 BTU for heating and cooling?

Thanks - is there a particular reason?

Thanks Tony. You are right, but we plan to put an electric car charging points n the garage space which I understand takes quite a load. Does anyone have experience of the air to air heater/coolers with the air inlet and outlet to an external wall? Or does anyone have experience of infra red heaters?

Thanks for your attention to this. We have consulted an electrician and unfortunately we need a new electricity supply. I should have said that we have full planning permission and building control. The garage is listed and is in a conservation area, so the roof is as high as the planners would allow. The ceiling height is 2.3 m at one end and 1.95m at the other – not ideal but it was that or nothing. There’s a fire-proof staircase between the downstairs garage and the upper space We’re embarking on this project since the existing garage (with asbestos and leaking roof) needs total refurbishment so we thought we’d take the opportunity to create the extra space, with no single use currently in mind.

Thank you both for your replies. Unfortunately we do not have space for a PV. As a complete novice I am not sure how I calculate surface to volume ratio. The dimensions are height 2m, width 5m, depth 6m. We would consider stored or instantaneous hot water. The bathroom will have a shower only and the kitchen will be part of the living area with a small sink. Do either of you have experience of air to air heat pumps? I have looked at the electriQ 10000 BTU wall mounted and others. As it would be in the living/sleeping area I am concerned that they could be too noisy? Would you have all air to air or combine with simple electric heaters? Do you have any views on infra-red heaters? Since the area is so small, I wonder whether we should just go for an electric combi boiler which would solve my water and space heating and then buy a fan to at least get some air circulation when it is hot.

I should be very grateful for some advice, please. I am creating a small self-contained liveable space (about 30 m²) above my existing garage. There will be a small kitchen area, living area, bed and a separate small bathroom. There will be an almost flat roof with opening roof lights with blinds but not sun protection glass - in total 7 m² .There will be no other windows and the ceiling height will be 2m. The new space will be well insulated and the space below will remain as a garage and a cool space. The new space could have a variety of uses, including a home office or guest accommodation and needs to have space heating, hot water and because of solar gain, some way to cool it when necessary There is no room for an external heat pump or photovoltaic panels. I’m trying to find a solution that’s ecologically sound and reasonably economical to buy and run, and my research has thrown up the following, most of which appear to have a draw-back. 1 A wet system with radiators and electric boiler. (no cooling) 2 Infra-red heaters . (no cooling or hot water) 3 All-electric radiators such as those supplied by Sunflow,Adax and Climastar (no cooling or hot water) 4 ”Air conditioning and heating unit such as Powrmatic Vision LTHW (fan coil model) Twin Duct PTAC Air Conditioner and Heat Pump - VIS-LTHW” (cooling but no hot water, noisy?) 5 An air to water heat pump such as Ecocentric or Groundsun200 which as I understand it will produce some cooling but probably not enough as the bathroom and kitchen may not be producing much warm air if the space is used as an office. Please does anyone have any advice on the above or alternative solutions. It appears that most of the drawbacks can be mitigated by buying additional units, but I would prefer a simple integrated solution if possible.