Open the Door to More Energy Efficient Parking
Modern residential, commercial, and mixed-use buildings are integrating more eco-friendly elements such as green roofs, vertical gardens, and solar panels to enhance energy efficiency. However, the enclosed parking area is often overlooked as an area of opportunity to improve energy use. In many cases, the easiest way to reduce energy consumption while still maintaining a comfortable parking environment is to install high-performance overhead doors. In fact, professional organizations such as ANSI, ASHRAE, IES, and ICC have standards and codes that validate the energy efficiency benefits of high-speed doors.
There are a few types of high-speed doors for parking applications, including fabric roll-up doors, rubber roll-up doors, and rigid metal slat rolling doors. Each door has its own set of advanced features that allow building owners and managers to control the temperature, air quality, and lighting of their parking areas in efforts to improve energy efficiency.
When selecting the right overhead door for underground parking, consider the following factors:
1. Speed
An open door causes air to escape, putting unnecessary strain on the energy-intensive HVAC system. That means the cooling or heating systems work harder and longer, using more energy and limiting their lifespan as a result. There are several advantages to a faster door that improve air control. Some advanced high-speed overhead doors can open at up to 100 inches per second. A door this fast will cycle open and close in only a few seconds, compared to at least 10 seconds or more for a typical sectional door. For busy facilities with doors cycling hundreds of times per day, those seconds add up to many kilowatt-hours of energy savings on an HVAC system.
2. Weather Seals
For locations exposed to extreme climates, high-performance doors can be equipped with tight-sealing perimeters that protect against air infiltration and conserve energy. To provide a tight full-perimeter seal when closed, doors may include full-height vinyl weather seals in side columns, edge-to-edge seals at the top of the door, and low-temperature vinyl seals along the bottom.
In cold climates, air infiltration can lead to frost build-ups around door openings. This can cause safety issues for people and vehicles, as well as prevent doors from closing properly. Installing heated side columns can further enhance a door’s ability to withstand frost build-up. High-performance doors may include heated or unheated blowers to moderate temperature variability near the entrance, depending on the degree of temperature variance.
3. Insulated Panels
To enhance thermal performance, rigid metal slat rolling doors can be designed with optional insulated panels. These panels are designed to provide an additional layer of thermal resistance, effectively reducing heat transfer and enhancing energy efficiency. Steel side columns add an extra measure of sealing security. In addition, fabric doors can be made of high-quality insulating thermal door panel material, designed to enhance energy efficiency and provide superior temperature control.
4. Ventilated Slats
Rigid metal slat rolling doors and some fabric doors can be equipped with screens or ventilated slats that maximize the circulation of fresh air and help minimize pollutants and unpleasant odors. By improving air quality, these doors contribute to a healthier indoor environment. Moreover, the efficient design of ventilated slats can reduce the reliance on ventilation fans, allowing them to operate less frequently throughout the day, which can lead to energy savings and lower operational costs.
5. Window Slats
To take advantage of daylighting, rigid metal slat rolling doors can be outfitted with full-width window slats that extend from top to bottom. Some fabric doors may include clear plastic panels. These features reduce the need for electric lights near the entryway during daytime hours. With daylight streaming into the parking area, the space looks brighter and cleaner, creating a more inviting and vibrant atmosphere without artificial lighting.
6. Access Control
When paired with enhanced technology for access control, such as cloud-based mobile apps, wireless key fobs, and key cards, high-performance doors can provide building owners with advanced control and monitoring of door use and activities. These tools can notify them if problematic activity occurs, such as a door being open for a prolonged period of time.
Every building has unique features that impact its energy use. To achieve energy efficiency goals in enclosed parking areas, modern high-performance doors have many advanced capabilities to reduce reliance on heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting. By investing in such innovative door systems, building owners not only enhance energy efficiency but also create a more comfortable and sustainable parking environment.
