Sun Window, Inc. - Environmental Stewardship

• Sun Windows, Inc. supports the intent of environmental stewardship aimed at protecting the Earth's resources including sound environmental practices to protect our air, water, land and the human, animal and plant life of our planet.
• Sun Windows, Inc. encourages our employees and customers to make the most efficient use of materials and resources, to recycle or reuse materials where economically feasible, and to conduct business in a a manner that supports environmental stewardship.
• Sun Windows, Inc. supports and defines sustainable forest management as the stewardship of forests that promotes the health, productivity and potential to fulfill relevant ecological, economic and social functions at the local, national and global levels, both today and for future generations. We support programs that promote the use of best forestry management practices and sustainable forestry activity.
• We encourage and support our employees and customers to improve their practice of environmental stewardship and will work to assist them and the broader community in the implementation of sound environmental practices.

Mission: Raise the level of awareness and educate employees and customers on environmental activities that impact them and to develop the vision to demonstrate Sun Windows leadership role and commitment to environmental stewardship and to influence organizations and programs that impact our company.

Scope: Act as a clearing house for environmental issues via associations, programs, governmental (and Non-Government Organization (NGO)) or regulatory agencies. Analyze, participate in, respond to, and influence these programs in order to represent Sun Windows, its products, employees and customers.

The word "Green" is so often used in the context of "environmental responsibility" and "sustainability" yet is hard to quantify definitively. Green to an environmentalist may be drastically different than that of a manufacturer. The challenge is finding common ground that promotes and rewards environmental responsibility as well as product design and performance that is balanced with the rigors and challenges of manufacturing products that need to be competitive in the marketplace.

• Practice sustainability by conserving today's resources for tomorrow's children.

  "Green Design" is design and construction that significantly reduces or eliminates the negative impact of buildings on the environment and occupants in five broad areas:

  • Sustainable site planning
  • Safeguarding water and efficient water use
  • Energy efficiency and renewable energy use
  • Conservation of materials and resources
  • Indoor environmental quality

  Source: U.S. Green Building Council

• Design products using sustainable, renewable and recycled materials.
• Establish an environmental management system.
• Conserve resources with environmentally sound manufacturing proactices.
  • Reduce material use
  • Reuse materials
  • Recycle materials
  • Reduce solid and hazardous waste
  • Conserve water
  • Control, reduce and eliminate emissions
  • Use environmentally sound preservatices, adhesives and coatings
• Produce products that benefit the environment.
  • Sustainable materials
  • Energy efficiency
  • Durability
  • Long product life

Use Life Cycle Analysis to analyze product design and performance.

• Participate in environmental and energy efficiency programs and credible certification and ratings programs.
  • National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC)
  • Energy Star
  • U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) programs (examples: LEED-NC for New Commercial Construction and Major Renovation projects, and LEED-H for Homes)
  • GreenBuilding Initiative (GBI) Commercial: Green Globes; Residential: National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Green BuildingGuidelines.
  • Wood certification programs: (examples: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI))

Information: This site contains summarized information about current programs related to green or sustainable building construction and building products. The information was collected by Sun Windows, Inc. Staff and members, and has not been reviewed by the referenced organization. The list is not exhaustive, and will remain a work in progress. Sun Windows has taken precautions to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the information presented. However, users are encouraged to contact referenced organizations directly for their most current information.

Links: This site contains links to Internet resource sites collected by Sun Windows Staff and members to educate the public about sustainability and green building research. This list is not exhaustive and will remain a work in progress. Sun Windows is not liable for the contents of the referenced websites nor the inclusion or omission of websites in this list.