With utility costs and concerns about the welfare of the environment on the rise, many homeowners are considering energy efficient products in their homes.
Whether building a new home or replacing products within an existing residence, moving to energy efficient products is helpful in saving long term money on utilities. To that end, as garages are often a sizable attachment to the residential space of a house, the use of an energy efficient garage door can help with utility costs and noise reduction. Determining the usefulness of an energy efficient garage door for a home can be a useful step when planning a garage door replacement.
Prime reasons for purchasing an energy efficient garage door replacement are directly related to how the garage will be used, as well as its location in relation to the house. Homes that share an interior wall with the garage will often benefit from such measures, as the warm or cool air from the garage can radiate into the home. In these cases, homeowners will choose energy efficient products in the hopes of lowering energy costs.
In determining how energy efficient a particular door may be, the important things to consider are how much air a door allows to leak through as well as what is known as the U-factor. The U-factor is typically used with windows as a measurement of how well the product insulates. Lower numbers, in this case, are better. Often, garage doors are marketed with an R-value, which is also a gauge of insulation capabilities, but this number should be higher rather than lower. Leakiness is also an important factor, as the warm or cool air coming through the small spaces between the door panels can affect how climate-controlled the space will be.
Some homeowners, however, will not see the need to further protect their garage from changes in climate. If the garage is detached from the home, or is used solely for storage, it is not as necessary to go with an energy efficient garage door. In these instances, the deciding factors can be left to the desired appearance and reliability for the home. Regardless of whether a home’s residents decide on a garage door based upon its energy efficiency or other factors, it is helpful to be aware of the attributes that make a door the best it can be.
Garage Door Replacement Can Add Increased Value, Beauty, Function and Energy Efficiency to a Home and is a worthwhile consideration.
Replacing a garage door in 2010 won’t just add style and curb appeal to your home – it can also save you money off the bottom line (up to $1500) of your income taxes. Many of 1st United Door Technologies insulated garage doors qualify for the energy tax credit under section 25C of the International Energy Conservation Code.
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