How an Amish optical illusion in my barn is saving me major money

I didn't realize this past spring that the two-layered door system the Amish installed in my barn would save me money once the winter winds picked up.

I will never forget the day I pulled up to my barn being built this past spring, greeted by the sight of one of the Amish brothers in charge of my barn construction on the ground, knee-deep in building barn doors, by hand, for the structure.

He turned to me, and in his Amish Dutch-American accent said, “Do you like the look of these doors? I can change them if not.”

“I… they are amazing. They are perfect. Don’t change a thing!” I said.

I watched him bring the doors outside and install them with the sleekest black hardware to a track that slides them overtop the actual main entryway doors to my barn. The main entryway doors had to follow local zoning code, including needing a lever handle if I ever open to the public, as well as locking shut.

In typical Amish fashion, the two-layered doors represent the best of old world construction (the handmade barn doors) with new world technology (a key pad that seals the barn shut every time I leave).

As I admired the craftsmanship and optical illusion that occurs once the barn doors are wheeled shut, I never considered the cost savings that would come with this kind of layered door design.

And just how much money am I saving? Allow me to explain!