How to Select a Green Door

  • By Barbara Jo Serago
  • 12/01/15

Many studies have shown that improved energy efficiency is the top driver behind sustainable design across all industries. The improvement of heating and cooling efficiency is the single most important attribute of the LEED standard, with efficiency thresholds being raised with each subsequent version of the standard. It is also the metric with the most obvious return on investment.

Although only a small portion of a structure’s surface area, exterior doors and frames are a functional part of the building envelope and can play an important role in the overall energy efficiency of a building. As with windows or walls, care should be taken to specify components that limit thermal exchange (the transfer of heat from one side of the door and frame to the other).

Improving the thermal performance of your building envelope helps reduce energy usage and energy costs. You can help reduce heating and cooling loads by providing superior thermal performance windows and exterior entrances (doors and framing systems). Some aspects for accomplishing this:

  • Properly sealed construction
  • Resistance to thermal extremes
  • Superior insulation
  • Thermally broken framing
  • Insulated panels in adjoining sidelites
  • Insulated glass of at least one-inch thickness
  • Keep vision lites to a minimum

Don’t be fooled by claims that equate the performance of the core material alone with the performance of a complete door assembly, because they are not the same thing. Of any entrance system performance metric, thermal performance has the most easily represented, verifiable and measurable values. Without getting into technical details, remember: the U-Value of a product should be low, while the R-value should be high.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

About the Author

Barbara Jo Serago is a sales manager, Strategic Initiative, for Special-Lite, Inc. (www.special-lite.com).

Featured

  • Studio G Announces Completion of New Massachusetts Elementary School

    The Groton-Dunstable Regional School District in Groton, Mass., recently announced the completion of a new elementary school, according to a news release. Florence Roche Elementary School measures in at 110,000 square feet and has the capacity for 645 students in grades K–4.

  • Active Learning Classroom

    Striking a Balance: The Keys to Renovating Science Education Buildings for the 21st Century

    The recent renovation of the Durham Science Center at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO) provides a roadmap for facilities managers tasked with balancing budget constraints, modern pedagogical demands, and long-term sustainability.

  • Boosting Student Wellness and Safety Through Indoor-Outdoor School Spaces

    Engaging students through facilities designed for indoor and outdoor learning and activities reflects a growing awareness of how children learn and thrive, with educators recognizing the importance of getting outside and disconnecting from technology. And, as today’s youth grapple with the urgent mental health crisis of increased anxiety and loneliness fueled by both the pandemic and technology, along with a related crisis in youth physical health, the wellness benefits of getting outside have never been so palpable.

  • Oregon Institute of Technology to Construct $35M Mass Timber Residence Hall

    Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, Ore., recently announced the construction of a new, $35-million mass timber residence hall, according to college news. The facility will stand four stories, have room for 517 students, and cover 86,710 square feet to address the college’s need for more on-campus housing.