Installing a new garage door? Make it green! No – not the color; that’s a choice, and probably not the right one. But you can make your new garage door eco-friendly by taking a few things into consideration during the design and installation process.
Choose sustainable materials.
Believe it or not, this is one of the areas wooden garage doors excel in. Wood is natural, biodegradable, renewable, and sturdy. However, especially in the West, the lumber industry is not helping the wildfire situation. Garage doors made of composite materials like resin and wood pulp have less of an impact on the environment.
Aluminum and steel are recyclable materials, meaning once your overhead door becomes old and broken, the materials can be melted down and reconstituted, instead of ending up in a landfill, like with vinyl. Pair these materials with insulation and you’re off to a good start.
Use quality construction and hardware.
The more well-made your garage door is, the longer it will last. Part of sustainability and reducing carbon footprints is for products to last longer. It means less manufacturing, less energy use, less waste. So opt for that extra wind-rated reinforcement and those heavy-duty garage door parts like hinges and brackets. With proper installation, a well-made garage door can last more than 20 years.
Get an energy-efficient garage door opener.
Not only are garage door openers smart now, they’re also more energy efficient. Older garage door openers use more power to do the same job, and they tend to fall short of new openers in terms of how smoothly the door is lifted and lowered. Installing a new garage door opener can reduce energy use, or eliminate it altogether if you hook it up to a solar source.
Design your door with installation.
Those quality construction materials you chose for your green garage door should include some serious insulation. Hot or cold, the less air and humidity leaking in from the outside, and the less heat or AC leaking out from the inside, the less energy you use and waste.
Making an eco-friendly garage door is much easier than in the past. Technology has advanced as well as manufacturing processes. Everyone should do their part to reduce their carbon footprints, even garage door installation and repair companies, like us!