Energy Efficient Doors: Save Money on Heating Costs
by Kirk Bangstad

Buying a home will probably be the biggest investment you ever make. Owning your own home is expensive, but well worth the costs in the long run. If you do decide to buy a home, you need to make sure that you don't end up spending a fortune in energy costs. A poorly insulated home can become a financial nightmare. Many people who buy cheap homes trying to save money actually end up paying more in the long run due to expensive monthly heating bills.

One of the ways to better insulate your home is to make sure your entryway door is energy efficient. Front doors are notorious for being drafty, and a poorly insulated front door can cause a spike in your heating bill. These days, there are plenty of well-insulated doors on the market. The engineering and science used to build these doors is remarkable. For instance, a plain looking wooden door can be made of many different materials. Most wooden doors made for cold-weather climates start out with an energy efficient polyurethane core. A hardwood is then built around this core, and then more aesthetic thinner plywood is added to the outside.

Steel and fiberglass doors are also often built with energy efficient materials that insulate them from the inside-out. They tend to be more resistant to wear and tear than wood, and thus often last longer. Many steel and fiberglass doors are built with a wooden finish for a more classical look.