Martin Garage Doors Go 'Green'

Martin Garage Doors takes recycling so seriously, they recycle down to the last scrap in building a "green" garage door.

No uniform green standards or energy star ratings exist for the garage door industry, but Martin officials are still claiming their product is "greener than green," in an effort to address the many concerns of the environment and global warming.

Martin builds garage doors of steel, copper and aluminum---all easy to recycle---and does not make any doors made of wood, reducing the impact on trees and forests.  Dave Martin, chairman of Martin Door, says all Martin Garage Doors are friendly to the environment.

Martin says key issues to consider in looking at the impact of a garage door on the environment include how sustainable or recyclable the product is, the carbon footprint necessary to build it, and the future landfill factor of the item.

According to Martin, the green nature of a garage door is measured by how long it will last.  Most Martin Garage Doors come with a lifetime warranty, including springs, parts and other components.

Martin takes an environmentally friendly approach to building a garage door. The company not only utilizes materials, which have been recycled, but they actively recycle.  Approximately 33 percent of the metal in the hardware is recycled and 90 to 95 percent of the metal used in a copper garage door is recycled.  One hundred percent of the plastic used to build window frames is recycled and reused. About 15 percent of the materials used to insulate Martin Garage Doors are from re-ground materials.

Unlike the polyurethane foamed-in "sandwich" doors of the industry, which often delaminate, Martin's polystyrene insulation is removable and reusable.  Many experts agree thermal breaks on garage doors add insignificant "R" value and weaken the door, accelerating their path to the landfill. (All Martin Garage Doors with insulation are eligible for a tax credit.)

When energy efficiency and solar energy are considered, Martin Doors are already earning their niche in environmental circles.  A Martin Garage Door is a key component of a LEED certified home being built in Costa Mesa, Ca. and a Martin Door has also been used as part of a solar test home, built in Utah.

Source: http://www.martindoor.com