Energy efficiency top reason to replace exterior doors

Energy-efficient home renovation is emerging as a key solution to US homeowners balancing a volatile housing market with a desire to boost curb appeal, says the ‘Opening Doors’ survey by JELD-WEN, a global manufacturer of interior and exterior building products. The survey says that, given the current real estate landscape, more homeowners say now is a good time to renovate or remodel a house and that energy efficiency is a key motivator for those looking to replace or install new exterior doors. As well, despite trying to limit overall spending due to economic pressures, nearly half of respondents (47%) are willing to pay extra for a more sustainable or eco-friendly product or service for their home – with most willing to pay for an upgrade that provides long-term cost savings (74%). Thirty percent of homeowners who are replacing or installing new exterior doors are doing so to increase their home's energy efficiency. “As the US home improvement market is expected to hit record highs this year, we're seeing homeowners prioritize low-lift updates that create a high impact,” says Jim Parello, JELD-WEN's vice-president and general manager of doors for North America. “Making investments in a home that will pay off in the long run is crucial, especially when it comes to energy efficiency.”