In recent years, it is fair to say heating bills have been verging on astronomical and even government caps have struggled to make these affordable for many people. It’s important to make sure your home is as insulated and energy efficient as possible in order to retain the warmth in your property during the colder months. Installing energy efficient doors is a great way to keep cold air out and the warmth locked inside. That’s why we thought it was time we looked at the best types of energy efficient doors that can save you money.
What makes a door energy efficient?
The most important role of an energy efficient door is to stop any hot air escaping and prevent the cold weather from getting into your house. Its effectiveness in this will depend on the type of materials and construction used, as many will have insulating materials or will be able to use natural heat from the sun.
What’s at the core of your door will determine exactly how energy efficient it is, as there are certain materials that will help reduce unwanted heat transfer. Composite doors like those from Bowalker Doors can be extremely effective in their energy efficiency thanks to their combination of PVC, wood, insulating foam and glass reinforced plastic (GRP). These materials are tightly fused together to enhance thermal insulation, also ensuring they are strong, secure, and durable.
There can be a tendency to think huge glazed doors like bi-fold doors are less energy efficient, but if you get the right one, you might find they could save you a fortune. The air 800 bi-fold door offers U-values as low as 1.4 W/m²K and can withstand wind loads of up to 100 mph, to help make sure the weather outdoors stays exactly where it belongs.
Energy efficient doors: what to look out for?
When choosing a new door for your home, most of them will probably claim they are energy efficient, so how do you know which one to choose?
The first thing to look at is the U-values that are advertised. These are an assessment that calculates the rate heat can pass through a material. It can therefore tell you how efficiently the door prevents heat from escaping. The lower the U-value number, the slower the heat moves through the material, making it a better insulator.
You should also take notice of the energy ratings being advertised. This rating looks at the total energy performance of a door, and will be ranked from A to G, with A++ being the highest possible rating, and G the lowest.
Most doors will have some form of glazing in them, and it is important you pay attention to this too. To determine whether the glazing is energy efficient, you need to think about how much light and heat are let in, how much can escape, and whether the glazing unit fits snugly into the door without any air leaks. If you are looking at a fully or partially glazed door, such as a bi-fold door or sliding door, then it will either be double or triple glazed and should contain a thermal barrier between the panes.
There is no doubt that energy efficient doors save you money, so it is important to make the right choice. At Bowalker Doors, we have a combined experience of 45 years in the industry with an unbeatable reputation for both our products and our services. We understand your needs and what is important to you, which is why we create stylish doors offering some of the highest levels of energy efficiency to ensure your home is warm all year round. For some of the very best types of energy efficient doors, visit our Hickstead showroom or get in touch for a quote.
