Windows, Doors, and Skylights - Energy-Saving Exteriors For a More Efficient Home

Saving home energy does not begin and end with improving the heating and cooling system inside your house, nor does it all depend on the energy consumption of the appliances you most likely use all the time. There are many ways to be cleaner and greener at home. That includes what you do to the outside of your house, which is what all the unwanted heat and cold comes in contact with first.

wood exterior doors

Energy-saving exteriors, therefore, are essential if you want to save home energy. They are the first line of defense meant to fight off unwanted temperatures from leaking inside and increasing the load on your heating and cooling system. Installing energy-efficient doors, windows, and skylights greatly reduce the energy costs in any house. Here is what you need to learn about these types of energy-saving exteriors.

EXTERIOR DOORS

Doors

It is not surprising to know that newer exterior door models were designed to be more energy-efficient. The most common of these energy-savers are those made with a fiberglass or steel skin with a core made of polyurethane foam insulation. These doors are highly efficient in trapping out the heat during the summer and absorbing it in the winter, as evidenced by their high R-values. The R-values are the rates to which the doors can resist the flow of thermal energy. Glass doors are less effective, though, because glass is not a very good insulator. There are, however, models that have a thermal break installed on their metal frames. The more expensive (and usually more energy-efficient) glass doors are made with multiple panes or spectral selectivity features.

These newer doors are good investments if you want to replace your existing door, but if the old one is still in good condition and it pains you to take it down, you can install a storm door to increase insulation. Storm doors are often made of fiberglass, steel, or wood and, just like other new models, have foam insulation inside.

Windows

These energy-saving exteriors can also become hidden atrocities on your electricity bill if you do not know how to choose the right window materials, install them, and properly maintain them. If your goal is ultimately to save home energy, with little to zero consideration on the immediate effects on your bank account, then your best move is to replace all your old single-pane windows with new ones that have double or triple the number of panes and have low-emissivity coatings. Such a big word there, but it only means that the newer windows were designed to reflect more heat away from the house and absorb less. If you live in the Sun Belt areas, the mere act of replacing your old windows can save you up to 15 percent of your home's cooling requirements during the scorching hot summers in your state.

However, if your budget cannot live up to the costs of new, high-performance windows, an alternative that is almost as effective is to install storm windows. They are cheaper, yet they can cut down heat loss through windows by up to 50%. A good storm window must have strong weatherstripping properly installed at all its joints.

Skylights

Skylights are one of the most attractive energy-saving exteriors. Not only do they illuminate natural lighting from above, they also affect the temperature levels in the space below. As a rule, the size of the skylight should not be more than 15% of the total size of the room if it has few windows, and not more than 5% if the room has a lot of them. South-facing skylights are the best option if you want to save home energy for passive heating during the winter, but it can also pose a problem when it gains unwanted heat in the summer. If you place the skylight under a shady tree, however, or add a movable cover, this problem can quickly be resolved.

Windows, Doors, and Skylights - Energy-Saving Exteriors For a More Efficient Home

Brian Carver is a house energy expert. He has focused on finding ways to preserve the earth's natural resources and helping people conserve energy and use it efficiently. For more ways to save home energy [http://www.houseenergysavingtips.com/energy-saving-exteriors], visit [http://www.houseenergysavingtips.com]

EXTERIOR DOORS