Energy management and optimization is a critical aspect of every business. Energy efficiency offers numerous benefits, including lower heating and cooling bills, enhanced temperature control, and a reduced carbon footprint.
Energy-efficient commercial doors use integrated garage door insulation made from polyurethane and polystyrene materials. From large industrial and logistics companies to warehouses, retail stores, and recreational buildings, insulated garage door panels can be seen in all commercial settings.
Are Energy-Efficient Commercial Overhead Doors Worth the Money?
As a business owner, it's important to reduce upfront costs without compromising on long-term efficiency. Energy-efficient garage doors are essential for many applications and a great investment for most businesses.
What Makes a Commercial Overhead Door Energy-Efficient?
When it comes to energy efficiency in overhead door products, there are two separate issues to address. First, you need to account for the energy used by the door mechanism itself, including the size of the door and its use of sensors and security. Second, and much more importantly, you need to think about how the door impacts the rest of the building. Insulation is the most critical factor, with energy-efficient doors affecting heating, cooling, and temperature regulation throughout the entire building.
R-Value vs. U-Value
If you want to create a climate-controlled garage, you need to understand the difference between R-value and U-value. The garage insulation R-value measures the rate of heat loss, which tells you how effective a particular insulation material is at preventing heat loss. The garage insulation U-value measures the rate of heat transfer, which tells you the actual thermal efficiency of the door itself.
What Are Some Advantages to Energy-Efficient Garage Doors?
Insulated garage door panels offer the following advantages:
Lower Energy Bills
When your garage doors include insulation materials, you are likely to significantly reduce your energy bills. With less air leaking in from outside, you will spend less money on heating and cooling.
Greater Temperature Regulation
Garage door insulation helps to regulate the temperature inside your building. This is useful in many applications, especially if you deal with foods or other sensitive products.
Reduced Carbon Footprint
Energy efficiency is not just about lowering your bills — it's also about helping out the planet. With climate change a real and growing emergency, every decision you make can have an impact.
What Are Some Disadvantages to Energy-Efficient Garage Doors?
Insulated garage door panels offer the following disadvantages:
Higher Initial Cost
Insulated garage doors are generally more expensive than products without insulation. However, initial costs are often absorbed over time due to lower energy bills.
Reduced Airflow
Preventing air infiltration determines the energy efficiency of an industrial door. While this is normally desired, it can lead to reduced airflow and stale air in some buildings.
Polyurethane vs Polystyrene Garage Door Insulation
When you are purchasing an energy-efficient garage door, you need to choose between polyurethane and polystyrene materials. Polyurethane is the best insulator and is most resistant to damage, although it does come with a heftier price tag. Polystyrene can also be a great option — it is waterproof, manufactured in large sheets, and less expensive than polyurethane.
If you're thinking about installing a new overhead door in your business, energy efficiency should be one of your chief concerns. When you have the right product for your building, you can lower your energy bills and control the environment inside your workplace.
To learn more about garage door insulation, contact the experts at Door Systems today.
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