With home heating fuel prices at all-time highs, now is a good time to make changes to help make your home more energy efficient. From insulated vinyl siding to new windows and insulated doors, there are many features you can incorporate into your next exterior renovation project that will boost your energy efficiency and save you money.
Insulated Vinyl Siding
Insulated vinyl siding is essentially standard vinyl siding featuring a backing of something called solid rigid-foam insulation. The voids behind the siding have been filled with insulation, making the material stiffer and more resistant to movement or warping than traditional vinyl siding.
Vinyl will insulate your home all year round, keeping you warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Poorly insulated walls will force your heater or furnace to kick on more often, wasting energy, costing you money, and detracting from the lifespan of your HVAC unit. Vinyl siding traps conditioned air inside your home, thanks to its dual layer design that prevents air leaks.
You could see a savings of $70 a year in energy bills when you choose siding with extra insulation.
New Windows
Energy-efficient windows feature gas fills between the window panes, usually of argon or krypton, leading to more efficient and insulated windows. These gases are non-toxic, colorless and odorless. The Department of Energy says homeowners can save between $125 and $465 dollars a year by replacing their old windows with new Energy Star windows.
There are a few things that make your windows more energy efficient, such as multiple window glass panes (double or triple paned), quality window frames, low-e glass coatings, gas fillers, and spacers.
Insulated Doors
Energy-efficient, insulated doors can save you money on energy bills because they feature a tighter seal against the weather, while keeping your heat and air conditioned air indoors. On top of money savings, you will also experience more consistent and comfortable year round interior temperatures.
A popular type of exterior door features a steel skin with a core of polyurethane foam insulation. It also has a magnetic strip (just like the magnetic seal on a refrigerator door) for weatherstripping. The R-values of most entry doors range from R-5 to R-6.
Single-pane glass or sliding patio doors aren’t as energy efficient because they tend to lose more heat compared with other types of doors. That’s because glass is a poor insulator. You’ll want to choose models that have multiple layers of glass, low-e coatings, and gas fills between panes.
When it comes to storm doors, these are a good option if your existing door is old but still in fair condition. Storm doors offer a degree of protection and energy efficiency. But if you have a new insulated door, there’s really no need to add a storm door because the door itself is so efficient.
Storm door frames are comprised of aluminum, steel, wood or fiberglass, and some come with foam insulation for additional strength.
When considering any of the above exterior renovations to improve your home’s efficiency, always partner with a trusted window, door and siding contractor. Installation precision is just as important as product quality!
Contact Hi-Tech Windows & Siding for Energy Efficient Home Improvements
If you are ready to make exterior renovations to your home this year, call us today at 800-851-0900 to get a free quote.