Can Garage Doors be Eco-Friendly? Here’s What to Look For.

In an age where homeowners are looking to be more environmentally conscious and sustainability is a concern for builders, architects, and manufacturers of custom garage doors, it pays to know what to look for when it comes to eco-friendly doors. While there’s no such thing as a carbon neutral garage or entry door, there are ways to reduce the carbon footprint of your garage door purchase. 

Here’s what you should look for when it comes to eco-friendly garage doors. 

Wood is an Ideal Material

At one time in the U.S., wood become the enemy of environmentally conscious people and organizations. There were concerns over deforestation in the U.S., and manufacturers of many different types of products, garage doors included, started using other materials (metal, plastic, vinyl, and other man-made composite materials). While this seemed like the best way to save the environment and combat deforestation, it created a market of materials that were difficult to dispose of and costly to make from a perspective of carbon output. 

Today, there is an extremely healthy lumber industry in the U.S. Backed by sustainability efforts and the planting of new trees, wood is back on top as one of the most sustainable building materials because of its renewability. You can’t grow metal, plastic, or vinyl. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly door material, wood is the way to go. Experts agree that there are more trees in the U.S. today than there were 100 years ago. Since the 1940s, forest growth in the U.S. has continually exceeded harvest, according to the U.S. Green Building Council. 

Work with U.S.-Based Companies

The most carbon efficient way to get a garage door is to work with a company that builds and assembles their doors in the U.S. Not only does this cut down on shipping emissions, it’s also better for the environment because of federal and state regulations. Many countries around the world do not have the same clean standards and protective regulations as the U.S., meaning the way their manufacture and assemble their products is not always environmentally friendly. 

Find a business that’s based in the U.S. and builds their garage doors here. 

Look For Environmentally Conscious Companies

Not every business makes a concerted effort to reduce their impact on the environment, but some take the extra steps needed to do right by the environment. What should you be looking for when choosing a garage door builder? Ask about their sustainability efforts. 

At CAMBEK, we’ve made a commitment to limit the impact our garage and entry doors have on the environment, particularly the nation’s beautiful forests. That’s why we created a sustainability program that gives back. 

It’s simple: for every door, gate, or set of shutters we handcraft, we give money to plant ten trees in various locations across the world, and we do it all in your name. When you purchase a door from us, you’ll be updated on where your trees are planted and how you’re helping keep our forests dense and habitable for all sorts of wildlife. 

Ready to build your door? So are we. Get in touch with us for a free consultation and to ask about our sustainability program!

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