Choosing a Proper Door to Minimise Energy Waste
To minimise air leakage and energy losses, one way is to have a proper exterior door that acts as an effective barrier and insulator. It also helps to apply proper weatherstripping to reduce air leakage.
Minimising energy waste
Energy-efficient doors can significantly lower your heating and cooling costs. Often, new doors are better than older ones, which is why you might want to consider replacing your old doors. In addition, you might want to avoid having exterior glass doors. After all, glass is a poor insulator (as when you touch glass you can instantly feel the heat or cold).
But if you still prefer a glass door, there are modern types now that provide a thermal break. There are also other types that have low-conductivity layers or characteristics. Be sure to ask the manufacturer, vendor or installer about the conductivity of the door material before deciding to have it in your home or building.
Aside from choosing the proper door material and the more modern doors, another way of reducing energy waste is through proper door installation. This is important because improper installation results in significant air leakage. To ensure proper installation, professionals ensure that the door seals tightly to the swings and jamb (this applies mostly to swinging doors). For sliding doors, appropriate weatherstripping is applied. However, this can wear out through the years which is why the weatherstripping should be replaced with the worn one.
Having the proper door material and ensuring the door is properly installed (and that it seals tightly whenever closed) can help reduce energy waste. This is a passive and somehow a permanent way to achieve energy efficiency. Note that this practical decision can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars of savings through the years. It’s especially the case in areas with unusually hot or cold climates (as well as sites with high HVAC use).
If you want to find energy-efficient doors, you can start browsing here so you’ll know your options. You can also enquire here if you want to learn more.