Learn About Energy Efficient Doors
Exterior doors for homes can be purchased today in an array of styles, materials, costs, efficiencies and features. As a result, with so many options, selecting an efficient door for your home can be a confusing process. However, there is good news. Energy Star makes your decision easier.
All doors purchased today include information that provides detailed energy performance ratings to help homeowners compare the efficiency of doors. Plus, these efficiency ratings on doors include two different efficiency ratings.
U-Value of the Door
A door’s U-Factor measures how well a product can keep heat from escaping from the inside of a room. As a result, the lower the number, the better the door retains heat in the house.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of the Door
A door’s solar heat gain coefficient measures how well the door resists heat gain. Therefore, this measurement remains especially important during the summer cooling season. As a result, the lower the SHGC number, the less heat gain coming into the home.
For example, doors installed in homes located in Florida should not necessarily maintain the same efficiency ratings as doors installed in homes in New York or Minnesota. Plus, doors in hot climates should block much of the sun’s solar energy. Conversely, exterior doors in cold climates should let more of the sun’s energy in and then trap it in the home to help keep the home warm. As a result, efficiency ratings for doors help homeowners select the best door for their climate zone.
Finally, Energy Star rates doors for efficiency depending on the amount of glass included in the door. The 3 rating categories for doors include:
- Doors with no glass area.
- Doors with less than half of the door area as glass.
- Doors with more than half of the door area as glass.
The energy efficiency information on doors helps homeowners select the most energy efficient doors for the climate zone. Make sure you use this information to select a door upgrade for your home that provides the highest level of comfort and efficiency possible.