According the U.S. Department of Energy, heat loss and gain from doors and windows can add as much as 25% to your home's heating and cooling bills.

By installing storm doors over your existing doors, you can improve the energy efficiency of your current door by up to 45%. And if you install your storm door before December 2007, you could be eligible to receive a tax credit!

How Storm Doors Work

If your door is old but still in good condition, a storm door could be a good investment. That's because storm doors increase your home's energy efficiency, and the older your existing door, the greater potential for savings. Storm doors seal out drafts by creating an insulated air space that reduces the amount of hot or cold air transfer between the inside of your home and the air outside.

Types of Storm Doors

Storm doors are constructed of aluminum, steel, fiberglass, or wood, and feature additional elements such as screens and removable glass panels. While some doors have fixed, full length screens and glass panels that slide out for ventilation, others have half glass and half screen panels that slide past each other. The best storm doors are constructed with low-emissivity glass, further enhancing the door's energy-saving capabilities.

Choosing the Best Storm Door for Your Home

You can purchase storm doors for all manner of exterior doors, including patio doors. However, if your exterior doors receive a large amount of direct sunlight each day you'll want to avoid installing a glass storm door as the glass will trap too much heat, damaging your existing door.

Tax Credit for Installing a Storm Door

Now is the perfect time to consider installing a storm door. The reason? The Energy Policy Act of 2005 gives homeowners up to a 10% tax credit on all qualified energy efficiency improvements in 2006 and 2007 up to a total of $500.

If you're looking to reduce drafts as well as your energy bill, installing a storm door could be the right answer for you.

Source

• Storm Doors, A Consumer's Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

About the Author
AJ Fanter is a freelance writer based in Reno, NV.