This article is provided by Lucy Kempton.
Eco friendly doors are one of the latest
editions to eco friendly buildings. New regulations mean that we will all be
seeing a lot more of this type of environmentally friendly solution within new
and existing homes. So what makes a door eco friendly? There are in fact
different ways in which a door can be considered kind to the environment, the
most obvious of which is keeping the warm in and the cold out.
The pressure on all sectors to become more environmentally friendly has been steadily mounting over the last decade or so, not least in the building and construction arena. This pressure, whether it is coming from customers or the government, is palpable. The latest building regulations mean that doors must be as energy efficient as windows. The U-value of an eco friendly door should reach 1.8W/m2K, this value coming in line with windows makes a great deal of sense.
The pressure on all sectors to become more environmentally friendly has been steadily mounting over the last decade or so, not least in the building and construction arena. This pressure, whether it is coming from customers or the government, is palpable. The latest building regulations mean that doors must be as energy efficient as windows. The U-value of an eco friendly door should reach 1.8W/m2K, this value coming in line with windows makes a great deal of sense.
For instance, double glazed sash windows will make a big difference to
energy consumption, but cold air will always find a way out if there is one to
be found. The cost of an eco friendly door, even if slightly more than a less
air tight option, will pay back handsomely over the years thanks to marked
reduction in heating bills.
A second way in which a door can be counted as eco friendly involves the chemicals used in its construction. Some companies are now using calcium zinc based compounds in the extrusion of the door frame. This replaces lead based additives which in the wrong place, can be an environmental and health hazard. Lead itself is a neurotoxin and the less we use of it the better for everyone.
Another way in which doors can be considered eco friendly is the use of recycled off cuts of PVC and/or making sure that the constituents can be recycled at the end of the door's life. Many are concerned that old doors and windows will end up in land fill, or even worse being incinerated. Thankfully, there are now numerous companies that can and will recycle and recreate new windows from old. The process is fairly labour intensive due the multiple components that make up a door. Firstly, the windows or doors are stripped down into their constituent parts. The chopped down PVC can then be turned into chip granulate, micronized powder or compounded pellets which are then used in all manner of places, from coating swimming pools to making the soles of shoes.
So whether you are refitting your old doors and windows or getting your sash windows double glazed, it is well worth considering the energy you could save with an eco friendly door. It is also well worth considering which chemicals have been used to produce it and how it can be reused once you have finished with it. Green attitudes are growing and flourishing in business and at home, and that can only be seen as positive for your pockets and the good of the earth we are sitting on.
A second way in which a door can be counted as eco friendly involves the chemicals used in its construction. Some companies are now using calcium zinc based compounds in the extrusion of the door frame. This replaces lead based additives which in the wrong place, can be an environmental and health hazard. Lead itself is a neurotoxin and the less we use of it the better for everyone.
Another way in which doors can be considered eco friendly is the use of recycled off cuts of PVC and/or making sure that the constituents can be recycled at the end of the door's life. Many are concerned that old doors and windows will end up in land fill, or even worse being incinerated. Thankfully, there are now numerous companies that can and will recycle and recreate new windows from old. The process is fairly labour intensive due the multiple components that make up a door. Firstly, the windows or doors are stripped down into their constituent parts. The chopped down PVC can then be turned into chip granulate, micronized powder or compounded pellets which are then used in all manner of places, from coating swimming pools to making the soles of shoes.
So whether you are refitting your old doors and windows or getting your sash windows double glazed, it is well worth considering the energy you could save with an eco friendly door. It is also well worth considering which chemicals have been used to produce it and how it can be reused once you have finished with it. Green attitudes are growing and flourishing in business and at home, and that can only be seen as positive for your pockets and the good of the earth we are sitting on.
Disclaimer: I have received compensation in return for publishing this article.
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