Yes, there is an Eco-Friendly Green Replacement Window in America

Renewal by Andersen is the only window company in the US to receive the earth-friendly Green Seal.

Andersen's commitment to environmental stewardship is at work in every level of their company. From purchasing policies to manufacturing to the energy needs of your home, long term sustainability is the standard by which all is focused.

The replacement window division of Andersen, Renewal by Andersen, has been recognized for its eco-friendly green window manufacturing technology in the United States with the distinguished Green Seal Certified.

Meeting the tough requirements of Green Seal has meant that Renewal by Andersen adopts environmentally friendly practices in all areas of its business. You might say the environment has become as much a part of Andersen’s fiscal responsibility as their goals to create a beautiful, durable window and door business.

And it has paid off; Andersen now reports that 98% of all raw manufacturing materials that go into their Renewal by Andersen products are used completely, without creating environmentally damaging waste or pollution, and consciously sustaining our natural resources.

Sustainability for You and Your Home

By using Renewal by Andersen windows, you can save the equivalent of 200 gallons of gas per year in energy savings.

Protecting the environment is the goal of Renewal by Andersen's manufacturing process, and the good news is that it extends to you and your home as well. Because after your new windows are installed, your home is more energy efficient than most homes in America.

According to Green Seal: "If all windows in the U.S. were as energy efficient as those made by Renewal by Andersen, Americans would save up to 2.5 percent of the annual U.S. energy consumption—an estimated 200 gallons of oil for every household in the U.S."

Compared to standard double pane windows...

• Andersen Smart Sun glass windows are 44% more energy efficient in winter
• Andersen Smart Sun glass windows are 70% more energy efficient in summer

This high measure of efficiency substantially reduces the energy required to keep your home comfortable. You no longer waste valuable energy compensating for drafty, poorly insulated windows. Andersen's Fibrex windows protect your home from that wasteful energy loss, help maintain the temperature you want for a longer time, and cut your power bills.

Save the environment now and eliminate future waste

Engineered to be durable, long lasting, and low maintenance, Fibrex windows reduce the need for future replacement. You make your window investment once. And you put an end to wasteful, short-term solutions for window replacement. Think about it: No additional materials or manufacturing are needed to replace your windows again in 5 or 10 years and you will enjoy the benefit of all the energy savings.

Renewable Energy and Recyclable Waste is Vital to Green Operations

Sustainable initiatives at Andersen's Bayport, Minnesota plant minimize environmental impact.

The energy used in manufacturing and the by-products created during the manufacturing process, have enormous effects on environmental welfare. At the Andersen Corporation, landfills, air quality, and fuel consumption are all top concerns when it comes to the health and sustainability of our planet.

A steam generating facility was added to Andersen's 65-acre manufacturing campus in 2007. Fueled by saw dust—a renewable resource and a by-product of manufacturing—the facility generates enough energy to heat and cool the entire plant, as well as power the equipment used in the manufacturing process.

Two wood-fired boilers responsible for generating the steam are outfitted with equipment that removes particulate matter from their exhaust. The ash by-product, left from the burning, is used by area farmers to improve the quality of the soil in their fields.

VOC emissions reduced by 60% since 1990

VOCs, Volatile Organic Compounds, vaporize into our atmosphere and significantly contribute to the pollution of our air, groundwater, soil, and even indoor air quality. The EPA regulates exposure to VOCs, which are typically found in industrial paint and paint thinners, cleaning solvents, and wood preservatives. By switching to a water borne wood treatment system Andersen dramatically reduced VOC emissions by 60%.

And, because Fibrex creates maintenance free windows that never need to be painted, the VOCs associated with painting are eliminated as well.

Toxic Release Inventory Reduced by 96% Since 1990.

Every day, manufacturing companies release toxic gases into the air as a result of their manufacturing processes. Since 1980, the EPA has required manufacturers to monitor and report these gases in a Toxic Release Inventory to ensure they don’t pose a threat to air quality or public health. With its 96% reduction, Andersen now far surpasses the EPA's requirements.

Landfill solid waste reduced by 83% since 1990.

You read that right: 83% waste reduction. Nowadays landfills are better engineered and regulations are in place to minimize their impact on our environment. But they can still take a huge toll, such as the off-gassing of the greenhouse gas methane (produced from decaying organic wastes) and possible ground water contamination. By refining and improving its manufacturing operations and recycling waste, Andersen has reduced its volume of solid waste material significantly, which can also extend the life of our existing landfills.

20% energy savings on lighting.

Sometimes the simplest course of action is one of the most productive. Merely by switching to High Efficiency T-8 Fluorescent light fixtures in its manufacturing plant, Andersen was able to reduce their energy consumption by an impressive 20%.

At Andersen, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse is more than a motto—it's a commitment.

Third part organizations have praised Andersen for playing an important role in helping the planet.

It's not just what Andersen says it does, it's what Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) verifies. SCS is a reputable, independent third party provider of certification, auditing and testing services. They provide a self-imposed way to protect consumers like you from getting misleading information, and they help Andersen develop its green initiatives by verifying the accuracy of its claims:

• 5% of materials used overall at Renewal by Andersen are recycled materials.
• 16% of all manufacturing materials are reused materials.
• 12%-17% of the glass used in Renewal by Andersen windows contains recycled content.
• 25% of the corrugated box material used to package your FIBREX windows is post-consumer material.

40% of FIBREX is reclaimed wood fibers

When wood products are manufactured, the resulting by-product is a large amount of leftover wood fibers. These fibers are collected, processed, and fused with vinyl PVC to become the durable, long lasting FIBREX material.

Andersen recognizes the value in all materials. By reclaiming wood fibers, the revolutionary patented Fibrex material not only reduces waste, it also reduces the demand for raw wood resources, and diminishes the substantial carbon footprint left by logging.

The reclaiming process reduces fuel and energy use as well. Because the wood fibers are reclaimed from Andersen's own plant, the outputs associated with transporting these raw materials over long distances can be eliminated.

Over 70% of Andersen's Wood Comes From Certified Forests

Andersen understands that healthy forests and the ecosystems they create are a critical part of maintaining our planet. And they're commercially important, too, yielding valuable resources like medicinal plants (for cancer drugs), rubber and of course, wood.

To help protect forests from destructive logging practices, Andersen buys the majority of its wood—70 percent—from FSC certified suppliers whenever possible. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent, international, nonprofit organization that runs the forest certification program to ensure compliance with its forest management standards.

Renewal by Andersen Windows - Green Enough for Green Seal

It has taken many years of commitment for Andersen to achieve its leadership role as an environmentally conscious replacement window manufacturer. Through the company’s initiatives and vision for our natural world, it continues to reach above and beyond the bottom line in every area of its operations.

That long-term, consistent commitment is evident in the fact that Andersen is the window and door manufacturer with Green Seal certified products—the mark of a holistic environmental approach.

So the next time you see a Green Seal label on Renewal by Andersen windows, you can feel good about supporting a company that works everyday for a more healthy, sustainable way of life for our planet and future generations to come.

North Carolina:
Whitehall Business Park: 2430 Whitehall Park Drive, #950, Charlotte, NC 28273 • 704-817-9641

Virginia:
Chesapeake: 1019 Eden Way North, Chesapeake, VA 23320 • 757-436-2200  |  Yorktown: 209 Village Avenue, Yorktown, VA 23693 • 757-833-2200