Many people think of windows when it comes to improving their home’s energy efficiency, but doors also hold a lot of potential! Replacing your old entry, security storm and patio doors with new ones can help you save energy every month—and can help improve the aesthetic of your home!
If you want to install a new energy-efficient door for your home in central Indiana, Overhead Door Co. of Indianapolis & Muncie can help! Contact us today or keep reading to learn more about what makes a door energy-efficient.
Door Energy Efficiency
Factors that affect a door’s energy efficiency (and make a door ENERGY STAR rated) are similar to those of a window but are also different. They include:
Material: Some materials have better thermal efficiency. Vinyl and fiberglass doors (which we offer) are extremely energy-efficient.
Glass: Some doors have glass, a transom window above or sidelites. Certain types of glass are more energy-efficient than others. Double- or triple-paned glass and low-E glass have some of the highest thermal efficiency.
Sealing: Frames on more modern doors often have magnetic strips to create a tighter seal that helps reduce air leakage. The better the weatherstripping of the door, the more energy-efficient it is.
Insulation: Some doors, especially newer ones, are insulated—and this provides even higher energy efficiency and better savings for homeowners.
ENERGY STAR & Testing
You may have heard the term “ENERGY STAR” when it comes to door replacement, but what exactly does it mean? How does a product get an ENERGY STAR label? ENERGY STAR qualified replacement doors:
- Are manufactured by an ENERGY STAR partner
- Are independently tested and certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC)
- Have NFRC ratings that meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Qualified products must be 40 percent more efficient than common building codes and reduce energy bills by at least 15 percent. ENERGY STAR qualification is based on NFRC certified product ratings.
The ratings provide information about the door’s:
- U-factor (measures how well a door prevents heat from escaping a home)
- Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (measures how much heat from the sun is blocked)
- Visible Transmittance (measures how much light comes through a door if it has glass)
- Air leakage (measures how much outside air comes into a home through a door)
- Condensation resistance (measures how well a door resists the formation of condensation)
The ENERGY STAR label was initially created to:
- Make it simple for consumers to buy energy-efficient products that offer great savings but are just as convenient and reliable as conventional products
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful pollutants caused by inefficient energy use
Energy-Efficient Doors in Indianapolis
If you live in central Indiana and are in the market for a new energy-efficient door, Overhead Door Co. of Indianapolis & Muncie can help. We offer front, storm and patio doors from manufacturers—like ProVia, Masonite and Great Lakes Window—that are ENERGY STAR qualified.
Get in touch with us to learn more—fill out the short contact form on the right or call us at 317-489-0825 for our Indianapolis location and 765-215-2932 for our Muncie location!
