The foundation of Windsor’s business has formed around the essence of what Green is; only, it hasn’t always been referred to as “Green.” Windsor’s parent company, Woodgrain Millwork, has built environmental stewardship into its core values, and this focus has been passed on to Windsor. With a strong Lean culture, Windsor has strived for years to optimize the use of resources in production and recycling what scrap remains.
Since the industry’s spiked interest in the Green movement, Windsor has felt ease, knowing we were environmentally responsible before it was even trendy to do so. This is not to say that we haven’t stretched ourselves, finding new ways to become a better fit for those who want to build green.
As a member of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), Windsor supports the work of this nonprofit, which encourages and educates people about the importance of building in an environmentally conscience manner. The USGBC established The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program as a national benchmark for homes seeking third party certification for green building. Windsor‘s windows have been used in homes that have acquired Gold level LEED certification, as well as countless other homes that adhere to strict environmental regulations.
Windsor’s products are compatible in the green building niche. We’ve examined the energy efficiency of our products and taken the lifecycle of each product into consideration. The more energy efficient our windows and doors are, the less energy homeowners will use to heat and cool their homes; thus having less of a negative impact on the environment. Likewise, the longer our products last, the fewer products that will need to be manufactured, therefore using fewer resources.
Windsor partners with vendors who also aim to make a positive impact on the environment. All of the top vendors that Windsor has aligned with participate in extensive recycling programs and adhere to, or surpass, all local, state and national environmental regulations put in place. Many are considered to be environmental leaders in their particular industry, producing products made from recycled materials, receiving awards from organizations such as the DNR and acquiring FSC and SFI certification.
While some argue that Green building is simply a fad, which will go away as soon as the housing market makes a comeback, Windsor disagrees. We are sure that Green building is here to stay, even if it’s not called “Green” building. And if the industry does turn a blind eye, Windsor won’t waiver from its’ values. In the end, it’s just the right thing to do.