Garage door manufacturer Clopay Building Products is providing its WINDCODE garage doors for three unique residential green building projects currently underway in Florida, one of which will be open for tours during IBS.
Although each project is very different in scope, they all share a common goal: to demonstrate how green products and technologies can be used to build healthy, sustainable, energy efficient homes in a severe weather region.
As the largest moving part on a home, the garage door plays an important role in maintaining its structural integrity and energy efficiency – two important criteria in green building design.
Sustainability takes on an increased level of importance in coastal areas because the garage door can literally preserve a home’s structural integrity during a hurricane.
“Because of their size, garage doors are more susceptible to wind damage than other exterior openings – especially two-car garage doors. Unless you have a tested, reinforced door installed, high winds can force it out of the opening, causing a blowout of the roof and walls,” says Pat Lohse, Clopay’s vice president of residential marketing.
Each builder has selected a Clopay three-layer insulated steel door with a WINDCODE reinforcement rating that meets local and International Building Code requirements.
Clopay WINDCODE doors are storm ready, which means there are no additional posts to attach to secure the door. Reinforcement is contained within the structure of the door and is engaged by simply locking it.
“These homes are national prototypes for the future of coastal green building, showcasing the best products available,” adds Lohse. “It’s a great opportunity to reinforce the important role a garage door plays in keeping a home safe and sound.”
Green Builder Vision House - IBS 2008, Orlando
Product Selection: Clopay Coachman Collection insulated carriage house doors
WINDCODE rating: W-
Constructed using the fundamental principles of the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines and those of the Florida Green Building Coalition, this high end custom home will serve as a showcase as well as a “Living Lab” for manufacturers to demonstrate the key attributes green products. Green Builder Media and leading building-science organizations will monitor the project to collect data about the performance of the home.
Clopay’s Coachman Collection mixes old world charm with modern technology to give homeowners and builders a low-maintenance alternative to the popular look of wood carriage-house style garage doors.
The doors look like wood on the outside, but are actually crafted of layers of steel and insulation topped with a wood grain finish PVC overlay. The designs vary to complement many architectural styles including mission, Shaker, traditional, French country and Victorian, and can be accented by decorative black iron hardware to enhance the appearance of a swing-out door.
“Building Green” (PBS and Building Green TV)
Product Selection: Clopay Coachman Collection 2” insulated carriage house doors
WINDCODE rating - W-x
Season two of the PBS television series documents the remodel of a lakefront Cape Cod style home in Orlando to show homeowners how they can create a home that’s better for the environment without sacrificing style and convenience. For more information, visit www.buildinggreentv.com
Florida’s Showcase Green Envirohome (FSGE)
Product Selection: Clopay Model 4400
WINDCODE rating: W-8
Veteran builder Mark Baker and his wife are attempting to build the “greenest home in the world,” a 3,500 square foot Near Zero Energy Home and near Zero Runoff Home in Indialantic, Florida.
Following home construction guidelines set forth from organizations including the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and the American Lung Association (ALA) Health House Builder, the goal is to raise awareness of “affordable and rewardable” green building practices that can be adopted to help mitigate rising taxes, energy costs and insurance premiums.
The inspiration for the project is personal experience. In 2004, Baker’s mother’s barrier island home suffered severe wind, water and ultimately toxic mold damage as a result of Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, and was declared a total loss. The following year his in-laws’ home in New Orleans was damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
The home is scheduled for completion in early 2008 and will be open for tours. During that time, approximately five adults will be living at FSGE in order to provide live, "proof of performance" data via GE sponsored monitoring systems. For more information, visit www.FSGE.net.
Clopay’s Premium Series Model 4400 door features a layer of environmentally safe CFC-free insulation sandwiched between two layers of 24-gauge steel for excellent energy efficiency, durability and quiet operation. Various panel styles in up to six factory finished paint colors are available. The doors can also be painted to match an existing color scheme.
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With four manufacturing facilities and 49 distribution centers across the U.S. and Canada, Clopay Building Products is North America’s leading manufacturer of residential garage doors and a leader in the industrial door market. Bringing more than 40 years of leadership to the garage door industry, Clopay Building Products maintains a strong family of brands including Clopay®, Holmes Garage Door Company™ and Ideal Door®. Since 1996, Clopay is the only garage door manufacturer to hold the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.