Feb 22 2010
Therma-Tru®, the nation's leading manufacturer of fiberglass and steel exterior door systems and an operating unit of Fortune Brands (NYSE: FO), has homeowners covered when it comes to meeting the new criteria of the ENERGY STAR® program that became effective on January 4, 2010.
"The ENERGY STAR program has changed their criteria for the Door, Window and Skylight category to continue to raise the bar for energy-efficient consumer products available on the market today," said Steve Jasperson, code and regulatory compliance manager for Therma-Tru. "Even with the new criteria, almost all of Therma-Tru's fiberglass and steel entry door systems meet these strict ENERGY STAR guidelines and are also National Fenestration Rating Council® (NFRC) Certified."
ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. The ENERGY STAR program for windows and doors uses U-values and Solar Heat Gain Coefficients to determine energy performance levels. In the new 2010 criteria, the Door category has eliminated climate zones and is now based solely on the size of the glass in the door. The Window category still uses climate zones.
"Consumers who choose ENERGY STAR-rated products can significantly reduce their energy bills" said Jasperson. "Therma-Tru fiberglass doors offer up to five times the insulation of wood due to their polyurethane foam core. This essentially creates an energy-efficient barrier in the door, stabilizing the interior temperatures and therefore decreasing energy costs."
To qualify as an ENERGY STAR product, an entry door system, and its glazing, must meet specific minimum U-Value and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient requirements. It must also be tested and certified by the NFRC. U-value is the rate of heat loss, or gain, through the door assembly, while Solar Heat Gain is the amount of solar energy that is allowed through the door assembly, or how well the door blocks the heat from the sun. These performance characteristics of the entry door system, with all of its different glazing options, are simulated by computer modeling. Actual door systems are then tested in the lab to verify the computer simulations.
Almost all Therma-Tru entry doors, even decorative glass and those without low-E, qualify as ENERGY STAR-compliant, providing homeowners with entryways that match the style of their home, while also being energy efficient.
"Under the new ENERGY STAR criteria, solid wood doors and even some fiberglass and steel doors have a very difficult time qualifying," said Jasperson. "This makes Therma-Tru fiberglass doors the ideal choice."
Source: http://www.thermatru.com/