If you are considering a new garage door, why not go green? It’s a bright move when it comes to the environment, but it’s also pretty smart when you consider the savings on energy bills. And your electric bill isn’t the only benefit you’ll see in your pocketbook. An new environmentally friendly garage door adds an attractive shine to your curb appeal, especially in a consciously driven community like Elk Grove, California.
Earth Friendly Materials
What exactly is an environmentally friendly garage door? Using reused and recycled materials like domestic wood and composite wood is great for the earth. Researchers have even come up with ways to create a composite hemp building material, which is increasingly becoming more affordable as hemp farming becomes legal in certain parts of the country.
In general, stick to non-metallic substances such as wood fiber, pulp or reused or rejected wooden materials. That being said, be conscious of where you get your wood.
“If your heart is set on a wooden garage door, work with a company whose suppliers use certified logging practices that don’t damage rainforests, and opt for additional garage door insulation to reduce your energy costs,” Rebecca Paredes writes in Green Future.
Solar Powered Openers
Another awesome way to reduce the carbon footprint of your garage door? Opt for a solar garage door opener installation.
“Garage door openers tend to draw 5-8 watts of power in standby mode for every hour they are plugged in, which is a small (but unnecessary) drain on your energy bill,” Paredes explains. “Solar-powered garage door opener systems require a solar module, opener, and accumulator. They use one solar panel to power the opener, and a battery holds an adequate charge to work during the night.”