All Windows Aren’t The Same Shade Of Green
It’s nearly impossible to open a newspaper or magazine today without seeing some advertisement or article about being green. The color has become an all-inclusive category title for anything that promotes environmentally-friendly products and services. That such a nation-wide movement exists is encouraging. The reality that no governing body exists to monitor who’s calling themselves green is something consumers need to recognize.When it comes to new home construction and remodeling projects, green products can significantly impact the energy consumption of a house. Window package selection is a great example of how to save additional money each month on your power bill. However, an energy efficient rating won’t ensure that the windows are green. When promoting green products, the term also describes a company’s manufacturing process, recycling practices and energy consumption commitment to its local community. To build energy efficiency and environmental consciousness into a company’s culture is more difficult, but is more consistent with the spirit of promoting green.
Nearly 80 percent of a window’s composition is glass. Low-E glass is necessary to achieve the best thermal performance and may be further improved with insulating gases like argon and krypton. However, the glass purchased to go into the window should contain 24 to 28 percent reclaimed glass to take advantage of recycled material.
The manufacturer should also re-circulate the water it uses internally in its production. The more vertically integrated (producing raw materials in-house), the more opportunity the company has to build recycling and natural resource conservation into its culture. Companies that produce millions of vinyl and aluminum windows each year have the opportunity to recycle extrusion scrap and waste to maximize production, with the least amount of material ending up in landfills.
Even product transportation is a conservation area. With today’s high fuel prices, fleet management systems should optimize outbound routes to squeeze the most deliveries out of one truck. During return trips to the factory, trucks should backhaul freight for other companies to reduce the cost per mile and the number of trucks on the road going to the same places.
Windows and doors can do much to improve the appearance of a home and relieve homeowners of high monthly power bills. Investigate the companies you do business with and challenge their definition of green. Insist on energy-efficient glass packages to minimize your power bill. Then go a little further to ensure the companies making your products practice the same philosophy they promote in their literature and advertisements.
