Thermal Efficiency of the Building Envelope Is Critical

Would you like to save energy and go green? Then consider choosing exterior building materials with care. The importance of thermal efficiency cannot be overstated.

Studies have shown that improved energy-efficiency is the top driver behind sustainable design. 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 overall energy efficiency. As with windows or walls, care should be taken to specify components that limit thermal exchange.

Improving the thermal performance of your building helps reduce energy usage and costs. You can help reduce heating and cooling loads by providing superior thermal performance windows and doors and framing systems.

Some steps for accomplishing this:

  • Properly sealed construction
  • Resistance to thermal extremes
  • Superior insulation
  • Thermally broken framing
  • Insulated panels in adjoining side lites
  • Insulated glass of at least 1-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. 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

  • Elevating Campus Maintenance: How Power Wash Drones are Transforming Educational Facilities

    As today’s campuses grow larger and more architecturally complex, keeping exteriors clean, safe, and inviting has never been tougher. Facilities leaders are under constant pressure to stretch budgets, meet safety standards, and support sustainability goals—all while tackling the stubborn challenge of exterior cleaning.

  • Creating Long-Term Sustainability on College Campuses Through Fair Student Housing

    The quality of student housing can have a significant impact on an individual’s college experience. Today’s higher education institutions face mounting challenges, including declining enrollment, low retention rates between the first and second years, and a rise in student mental health concerns. Thoughtfully designed living spaces can help address these issues by creating environments that promote both academic focus and personal well-being.

  • The Role of Unified Communications in Hyflex Education

    Academic technology and pedagogy have evolved in ways few could have imagined a decade ago. Today, hybrid/flexible (or hyflex) learning environments — a mix of in-person and remote instruction — are the new normal. However, as promising as it sounds, making hyflex work smoothly is no small feat.

  • Spaces4Learning Announces Winners of 2025 Product Awards

    Spaces4Learning has just announced the winners of the 2025 Product Awards! The award program recognizes innovation and excellence in products that enhance learning environments in K–12 schools and institutions of higher education.

Digital Edition