Everyone is thinking sustainably these days, and looking to upgrade parts of their homes that could stand to be more ecologically sound. But one feature of the home that many people tend to neglect is their doors. Although they may be relatively small in size compared to walls, for example, your home’s doors play a very important role. And they are just as much in need of attention as any other part of the house.
Whether it be a front door, a patio door, or any other door in your house, the quality of your materials choice matters. So let’s take a closer look at what the options are these days. You may well find something that not only benefits your house ecologically, but which also gives it a whole new appeal, inspiring further design choices.
Why You Should Choose Eco-Friendly Doors
Before we get into the specific benefits of choosing eco-friendly doors, let’s start out with some general information. Yes, sustainable doors require larger initial investments (they can be up to 40% more expensive than traditional doors). But this pays for itself easily over time, helping to reduce energy bills, improve home aesthetics, and ultimately increase home value.
Energy Savings
Let’s take a closer look at the specific benefits of eco-friendly doors, starting with what is many people’s primary motivator for buying them: energy savings. If you invest in eco-friendly doors, your energy savings will become clear in many ways:
- You will save an average of 18% annually on energy bills, depending on the materials you choose and the overall size and construction of your home.
- You will prevent heat loss by up to 20% as shoddy doors can be a major source of leaks.
- Depending on the materials you choose, your R- values will increase significantly. R value is a measure of heat flow resistance. For front doors you should look for a value of 5-7, with patio and garage doors typically having a wider range of levels.
Durability And Overall Home Quality
Durability is the other big thing that people look for in doors, and eco-friendly materials such as fiberglass and composite materials can last twice as long as traditional doors (up to 40 years, as opposed to 20 for traditional doors). Eco-friendly materials are also much more resistant to warping, rotting, and decaying as a result of weather damage. And this, of course, means lower maintenance costs.
Beyond the durability qualities, the overall “health” of your home will be greatly improved if you choose eco-friendly materials. Sustainable doors tend to use low-VOC (volatile organic compound) finishes, which reduces potential toxicity levels. This helps to improve indoor air quality in minimizing the effects of chemical off-gassing.
Property Value Increase
Let’s not neglect the biggest long-term advantage of going with eco-friendly doors. You can increase the overall value of your home by as much as 10% by investing in eco-friendly doors. They also help to contribute to your home’s “curb value” as people definitely recognize sustainable materials when they see them. In fact, your investment may well inspire the neighbors to act similarly.
And your home will have greater noise insulation, as well. This will make life much more pleasant for both you and future home owners. The better quality your doors are, the greater noise protection you will have.
Government Incentives
The Canadian government is definitely doing its part to incentivize the purchase of sustainable home materials, and this includes doors. Eco-friendly doors can receive Energy Star certification from Natural Resources Canada. The Energy Star standard is a clear marker of quality, and it will help to solidify the value of your purchase.
You might even be eligible for tax credits if you buy the right doors. Standards are based on a number of factors, including U factor (a measure of heat loss prevention) and doors’ overall energy rating (which is based on a combination of factors). When you are shopping around, ask about this. You could end up saving yourself a lot of money.
Start Shopping Around Today
As you can surely see, making the investment into eco-friendly doors is welk worth it. In taking this step, you will be doing yourself and the environment many favors. You will help to reduce energy bills by preventing heat loss. You will be contributing to the overall improvement of your home by enabling better air quality and reduced toxicity levels. And you will be raising your home value overall. So it is clearly a major win for you all the way around.
Start looking for eco-friendly doors online today. If you need additional information, consult an expert. Then you can start benefitting from the world of sustainable living.
