Being green is today's talk of the town. More and more people are trying to be as "environmentally friendly" as possible. Companies are investing a lot of time and money in order to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Hybrid cars are popular. Cities are encouraging their citizens to recycle, homeowners are composting and everyone knows someone who has planted trees to save the forests. Being green is now the coolest thing on Earth. And you know what? It is wonderful. But what about the largest door on your home?

Energy efficient garage doors

Did you know that a garage door can be an energy efficient product? In fact, if it is an insulated garage door, it will keep the garage area and adjacent rooms to the garage warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. This is a good way to reduce energy consumption and lower your utility bills. Moreover, if you are using your garage as a workshop or recreation area, having an insulated garage door will keep the temperature more comfortable.

When it comes to insulation, according to Nancy Labbé, communication coordinator at Garaga, one of the largest garage door manufacturers in Canada, homeowners should pay particular attention to the R-value of their garage door. The higher the R-value is, the higher the insulation which will result in energy savings. A garage door insulated with polyurethane foam offers the best insulation by far. "Polyurethane foam provides twice the insulation value of polystyrene" said Nancy Labbé. Polyurethane insulation bonds to the door's metal skin to create strong and solid sections while virtually eliminating the risk of the metal skin separating from the insulation.

However, in order to insure the high-quality weatherproofing of a garage door, it is important to emphasize the perimeter weather seals as well as those between the sections. Note that the advertised R-value of a garage door means very little if the door does not have a complete thermal break system and a proper weather seal system around the perimeter of the door and between each door section. "Without a thermal break, heat and cold will move from the outside of the door to the inside of the garage, reducing the insulation value of the door. Metal end caps may allow frost to build-up and the door sections to freeze together", explains Ms. Labbé. Also, it is important to take the time to install the door correctly in order to maximize energy savings. Homeowners can count on garage door specialists to help them out with their garage door. They are trained to offer you safety and peace of mind.

Long-lasting product

Insulated garage doors are not only "environmentally friendly" because they are energy efficient. Doors made with aluminium or steel are also long-lasting products. Knowing that homeowners will replace their garage door only 2 or 3 times over their lifetime, having a metal garage door is certainly good for the environment. Moreover, aluminium doors are recyclable products and some companies manufacture steel garage doors containing 25% of recycled steel. They are by far better than the traditional wood doors that homeowners have to replace every 4 or 5 years. Do not forget that a non-insulated garage door does not offer the same durability and quality as an insulated one.

Finally, with an insulated garage door, you automatically do that "little something" for the environment and you will certainly benefit from this. In addition to reducing your energy consumption, a metal garage door is durable and made of recycled materials. Take a green turn with an insulated garage door. Don't forget that each and every one of us must do our part to insure a « greener » future for ourselves and the generations to come.

About Garaga Inc. Garaga is a Canadian garage doors manufacturer for the residential, commercial and industrial markets. Garaga ownes two ultra-modern plants, one in Saint-Georges-de-Beauce, Quebec and the other in Barrie, Ontario. The company also has a distribution center in Montreal, Quebec. GARAGA inc. is celebrating his 25th anniversary in 2008 and has grown from 5 employees in 1983 to over 200 in 2008.