How to Create an Energy-Efficient Garage?

You wouldn’t let a water pipe leak year after year and drain your bank, so why let the natural gaps in your garage door leak cold and hot air into your home? With the rising cost of living, spending a little upfront to make your garage energy efficient can lead to lasting savings. Don’t waste your money heating or cooling the outdoors—read on to learn how to make your garage more energy efficient with basic items from your home as well as more extensive solutions to maximize savings. North Shore has been in the business for decades, so we know the perfect hacks to transform your garage.

Why is an Energy Efficient Garage Important?

Even when a garage door is shut, outside air can seep inside through the natural gaps between the door and jamb as well as entryway garage walls and windows. If you’ve ever felt a breeze coming from the bottom of a closed door or window, you’ve experienced this firsthand. With only the entry wall of most homes insulated, garage temperatures can be within 10 degrees of outside temperatures in the winter and rise by as much as 18 degrees in summer.

Most garages don’t have heating or AC, so extreme temperatures leak into the house. That makes your HVAC system work harder and raises your utility bill. Rooms next to the garage are especially affected. Making your garage energy efficient helps keep it at a more stable temperature and saves energy. It also helps reduce your carbon footprint.

What Are Different Ways to Seal Your Garage from the Cold?

Sealing your garage blocks outside air from coming in. Depending on your budget, there are simple DIY fixes and more advanced options.

Wall Insulation

If your garage has drywall, insulation may need to be professionally blown in. If your garage has exposed studs and plywood, you can install rolled insulation yourself. Use faced insulation with an R-value of 15.

Weatherseals

Garage doors leak air from all sides. Use weatherstripping and bottom seals to close those gaps.

• Use vinyl stop molding seals for the top and sides of the garage door. North Shore’s coiled duraseal looks like real wood and comes in multiple colors. It’s affordable, damage-resistant during shipping, and easy to install.

• Use EZ Zip seals for the bottom of the door. They don’t require a retainer and come in DIY-friendly kits.

• For extreme weather, use EPDM Tri-Fin Polar Seals. They remain flexible from -60 to 200°F and feature a rubber thermal break for a tighter seal.

• For passage doors, use vinyl door sweep kits. North Shore carries options in multiple colors that come with pre-punched aluminum retainers and matching screws.

Windows

To check for window leaks, wave a piece of tissue around the frame and watch for fluttering. Seal with silicone or acrylic caulk. Silicone is flexible in the cold; acrylic holds up to sunlight. For a long-term solution, consider fiberglass windows, which are up to 15% more efficient than vinyl.

Garage Door

Even when shut, most garage doors allow heat or cold transfer—especially aluminum doors. Upgrading to a polyurethane-insulated door can help. If that’s not feasible, consider peel-and-stick insulation products for an external solution.

How to Beat the Heat from Infiltrating Your Garage

Hot climates bring their own challenges. Heat and humidity can damage car parts, appliances, and electronics stored in your garage.

Hot air sneaks in through the same gaps as cold air and rises, heating up the attic and upper levels of your home.

• Ventilation: Install roof vent turbines. They’re powered by rising heat and require no electricity.

• Reflective or vinyl insulation: Reflective foil-backed insulation dampens noise and works year-round. Vinyl insulation is effective but requires more effort to install.

• Wall and ceiling insulation: These add support against heat transfer.

• Small AC unit or fan: In small, insulated garages, an AC unit can work. Fans help too, especially if timed.

• Organization: Decluttering your garage improves airflow and helps regulate temperature.

Keep Your Garage’s Equipment Updated

Old garage door openers can waste energy. Modern openers are more efficient and often include smart features like Wi-Fi. North Shore offers a wide range of modern residential openers for every garage type.

Clean Energy Improves Efficiency, Too!

Installing solar panels is a higher upfront cost, but they’re relatively easy to set up and reduce long-term energy bills.

Keep Your Garage Going With Replacement Parts from North Shore Commercial Door

A struggling garage door or opener uses more energy. North Shore carries thousands of hard-to-find parts to keep everything running smoothly. And if someone leaves the garage open for hours, smart Wi-Fi devices let you close it remotely from your phone.

Still Curious About Energy Efficiency?

Please ask. Our in-house experts can help with energy-saving solutions and product recommendations. Get in touch with our support crew.