The Advantages of Energy-Efficient Doors for Homeowners

The best home upgrades are practical and aesthetic. If you’re thinking about a new renovation project for your Asheville property, there’s no better way to boost its value and save a bit of cash than swapping out your old doors with new, energy-efficient alternatives.

Homeowners just like you can see several immediate advantages upon installing energy-efficient doors throughout the house. Don’t believe us? Let’s dive deep into the benefits of energy-efficient doors now.

What are energy-efficient doors?

Simply put, energy-efficient doors are any doors that have lower heat flow and air leakage compared to other doors. Most energy-efficient doors are constructed of insulating interior materials and durable exterior materials, plus are fitted with weatherstripping to prevent air-conditioned or heated air from escaping. Energy-efficient doors are built from several materials, including:

• Fiberglass is the most energy-efficient material overall since it’s a poor conductor of heat.
• Aluminum is durable and somewhat energy-efficient but still conducts heat better than fiberglass.
• Wood is beloved by many Asheville homeowners due to its look and texture. Unfortunately, wood is a very bad insulator – it absorbs and transmits heat better than most other materials!

Sliding glass patio doors and storm doors can also be energy-efficient. These doors save energy and trap heat through coated panes of glass, which are layered with an insulating gas between them.

You can tell that a door is energy-efficient if it has ENERGY STAR certification. All ENERGY STAR-certified front doors have a “u-factor” that measures just how well a door or window material insulates a house. Different glass options have different “u-factors,” so keep in mind, the lower the number, the better when selecting!

Which type of door is most energy-efficient?

Exchanging an old front door for a better energy-efficient entry door alternative? To maximize your benefits, opt for a fiberglass door with polyurethane insulation. Polyurethane, or “PUR,” is a special plastic material that has a low heat transfer coefficient. It’s lightweight, easy to add to a door, and highly durable. When you install one of these front doors in your home, you’ll protect your house in more ways than one!

Doors from Thermatru’s Fiber-Classic Door collection are perfect examples of how good these doors can look while boosting energy efficiency at the same time.

The 7 big benefits of energy-efficient doors

Still not convinced that energy-efficient doors are the best upgrades for your Asheville home? Once you consider these seven benefits, you won’t want to choose any other door type.

1. Savings on your utility bill

During the summer and winter, you might wince each time you open mail from your utility company. But, by insulating your home with an energy-efficient front door, you’ll see fast savings on your utility bill, sometimes to the tune of several hundred dollars per year.

That's money that goes straight into your savings account. You can also think of it another way; foot the bill for an energy-efficient door, and the upgrade will pay for itself in time. In any case, it’s always better to save a buck than waste it! So, wait no longer and consider installing energy-efficient doors to help save on those utility bills.

2. Tax credits for ENERGY STAR doors

You can save even more money if you claim special tax credits. For example, the ENERGY STAR Exterior Doors Tax Credit might be available if you install an energy-efficient door anytime between now and December 31, 2032.

If your door is ENERGY STAR-certified, you could claim:

• Up to 30% of your project’s total cost OR
• $500 total or $250 per door

You read that right. With the right tax credit, the government can pay for you to have energy-efficient doors in your home. What’s not to like?

3. Better home comfort with an energy-efficient door

A drafty door defeats the purpose of a secure portal into your house. With an energy-efficient door and its insulating seals, you’ll feel much more comfortable in your home.

No longer will you walk by your front door and shiver in the winter or lament the loss of cool, refreshing air as it sneaks through a door gap during the summer. Energy-efficient doors help to regulate and stabilize temperature throughout your Asheville property, similar to energy-efficient windows.

4. Eco-friendliness

Wasting energy is bad for the planet, just like it’s bad for your wallet. One of the minor, yet still important, benefits of energy-efficient doors is the reduced energy you’ll consume. Lowering your carbon footprint enables you to do your part for the planet – and if everyone follows the same advice, we’ll collectively make a huge impact.

5. Soundproofing

The seals and insulating materials used for energy-efficient doors have an ancillary benefit since they don’t just block heat. They also block sound.

In fact, the right energy-efficient door can properly protect your home from ambient noise outside, like:

• Traffic
• Dogs and other animals
• The far-too-chipper neighbor mowing the lawn at 6 A.M. on a Saturday

Noise insulation is an invaluable benefit for many Asheville homeowners, especially if your property is located on a busy street. Add an insulating storm door for even better results (and protection against North Carolina’s summer storms).

6. Reduced door maintenance

Keeping your doors clean and polished can be a lot of work, especially if they’re made of wood. That’s not the case with many high-quality fiberglass doors.

In fact, keeping fiberglass doors looking stellar is easier than you think. Mix dish soap with water, then wipe down your doors with a rag from time to time – that’s it! There’s no need to worry about rot, warping, or insect damage.

Even better, many of the best fiberglass energy-efficient doors are available with wood grain finishes. These doors let you have your home renovation cake and eat it, too. They come with all the benefits of energy-efficient construction but retain the look and feel of real wood for your aesthetic enjoyment. Check out Waudena’s Timbergrain Collection of textured fiberglass doors to see for yourself.

7. Higher property value

Lastly, remember that each energy-efficient door on your property adds to its overall value. Should you ever decide to sell your Asheville house, energy-efficient improvements might let you command a much higher asking price from buyers. You can turn around and use that cash to make a down payment on an even better house later on!

Just one of the above benefits might be enough to convince you to replace an old door with an energy-efficient model. But with seven benefits, there’s no reason not to look at some eco-friendly door models right away.

That’s easier than ever when you work with the experts at Window World of Asheville. Our Asheville location has an extensive selection of quality energy-efficient front doors, patio doors, storm doors, and more, so get in touch with one of our specialists today.