There is a great deal of information on the internet and in print about how quality replacement windows can help reduce home energy use and heating costs. But it is important to remember another opening in your home’s “envelope” that is twice as big as a window, and can potentially allow much more of your home’s energy to escape — your exterior doors.
Count up the number of doors in your home that open to the outside. Most homes have three, four or more “entry doors.” Now multiply the number of doors by two: that’s about the equivalent area of potential energy loss as you’ll find in your windows.
Older doors and many doors that come as “original equipment” in newer homes are often not energy efficient. Hollow-core metal doors easily allow thermal transfer to occur, in which warm air exits and cold air enters a home. Brrrrr!
Modern technology has given us much better alternatives. The entry doors we install are wonders of engineering and design. They are well-insulated to provide a thermal barrier between the weather and your home, have advanced seals along the door jamb to discourage drafts — all while providing a beautiful entry setting. You can even get doors with large glass areas that use Low-E glass technology to deliver excellent thermal performance.
So when you are planning improvement projects to boost your home’s energy efficiency, don’t forget the doors. The largest openings in your home may also provide some of the biggest energy savings.
