Energy Efficient Doors

What are

Energy Efficient Doors

When is a door not just a door? When it’s made and installed with energy efficiency in mind!

An energy efficient door will keep heat in the house and, at the same time, keep the cold and bad weather out. Just how well it does this will depend on the materials used to make the door and any insulation incorporated within the make-up and, of course, how well it’s fitted.

Also important is the style of the door in relation to its position … for example a north facing door without a window will absorb less cold whereas a south facing door will be better able to utilise the benefits of the sun when it has a window built in.

Energy efficient doors are typically made from composite, uPVC, wood or aluminium in a huge array of different designs, styles and colours. So, good quality energy efficient doors will not onle make for an impressive entrance but will also help reduce heat loss and keep your energy usage down.

Energy efficient doors

Energy Efficient Doors Example

What are the main benefits of energy efficient doors

A doorway represents one of the main area of concern when it comes to heat loss and draughts but like all other parts of a building doors can now be very effectively insulated and draught-proofed to keep the heat in and hence lower energy consumption.

As an added benefit they can also look amazing – adding the the “curb appeal” of any property.

So, fitting energy efficient doors to your property will:

  1. Keep heat in, keep the weather out and prevent drafts meaning lower energy bills
  2. Improve comfort by helping retain a consistent temperature
  3. Reduce draughts and unintended air leakage and hence improve indoor air quality
  4. Lower your energy consumption and hence reduce your carbon footprint
  5. Built in acoustic insulation will reduce outside noise making a more peaceful environment inside
  6. Look amazing and add to the appeal and value of your property

Are all energy efficient doors the same?

Absolutely not … different styles, different colours, different materials, different insulation … no two energy efficient doors are the same.

Most commonly used materials

Composite Doors: The use of multiple materials (such as uPVC, foam, glass-reinforced plastic, wood aluminium etc – even aluminium) can result in a door that is incredibly strong, secure and requires minimal maintenance and, at the same time, the scientifically formulated construction utilising these different materials absolutely excels when it comes to energy efficiency and can surpass the requirements of building regulations.

Wooden Doors: As a natural insulator a wooden door can effectively block heat transfer in both directions. Whilst some will view the regular maintenance (painting, treating etc) as a drawback others will regard this as a benefit which easily allows for a change in colour schemes and appearance

uPVC Doors: Reliable, robust and durable doors which can withstand extreme weather conditions while maintaining indoor heat.

Aluminium Doors: Stylish, strong and durable requiring little maintenance as they won’t rust, peel or flake and are resistant to small knocks and scratches.

Design

There’s a huge range of designs or you can even have a door that’s bespoke to your own project. To give you an idea you can choose from flush, panelled (in different configurations) doors, top and bottom opening stable doors, double fronted French doors, bi-fold, tri-fold or multi fold doors, security doors, fire doors to list just a few of the main styles.

Then there’s the actual design … then there’s the colour scheme … the choice is endless!

Installation

The fitting of the door is crucial – make sure it’s done in accordance with instructions to eliminate any unintended heat loss or draughts.

How to choose

Decide on a style, design and colour in keeping with your property and which fits your budget. Pay particular attention to the U-value of the door.

The U-value represents the rate of transfer of heat through the door, divided by the difference in temperature across it. It is quoted in W/m²K.

Building regs stipulate the minimum U-value of a door should be 1.6W/m²K or less … the lower the better.

Energy efficiency ratings of doors explained.

Closely aligned with double glazing, energy efficient doors are rated using a very simple system from E (worst performing) up to A++. The ratings are calculated on heat loss, solar gain, and the amount of air lost through the door.

One of the main and most trusted ratings council is the British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC) who describe themselves as “the UK’s most trusted rating council for verifying the energy performance of windows and doors, with the most widely-used energy rating system”.

How much do energy efficient doors cost?

As we’ve said earlier, there are so many choices of material, style and design which makes it very difficult to quote you even a meaningful price range.

Typically you’re going to be looking at anywhere between around £300 and £2,500 for the energy efficient door itself and anywhere between around £800 and £4,500 for a door including fitting.

Are grants for energy efficient doors available?

At the moment the answer is usually the answer is no however, there may be support available in certain circumstances and as a wider double glazing grant when upgrading from single glazing so it’s always worth checking.

Unfortunately the advances in technology and improvements in energy efficient doors are yet to be recognised through direct grant support.