Exterior Doors

Your doors represent an invitation into your home—they are part of the fabric of your house that you and your visitors will encounter on a daily basis, so this is an area in need of your green attention. There are many types of doors, all of which are area-specific. Selecting certain doors and doors specific to their area will help save energy, as well as the planet .

Storm Doors: Storm doors are a good way to increase the energy efficiency of an existing or recycled door.

Weatherstripping is the application of a strip of some combination of materials around your door perimeter to improve the air seal. Weatherstripping improves your door’s energy retaining ability. Almost all the heat energy loss associated with doors is not through the surface itself, but through the cracks between the door and the wall, and between the door casing and the wall. In terms of energy conservation, good weatherstripping and caulking are more important than the actual materials that comprise your door.

Do Your Doors Need Weatherstripping?

Your doors have to a lot to do, especially exterior doors. Essentially, they need to prevent things you want to retain from escaping, and keep things that you don't want out of your home, all while allowing you to come and go as you please. "Things" that might be as small as molecules of hot air, or as large as a burglar. That’s a tall order for a simple rectangle on hinges! Making sure your door is energy efficient will help keep energy where you want it to be.

Windows contained in doors are less energy-efficient than solid options; whether they are french doors, patio doors, or doors containing a small peek-through window.