Ecological Window Replacements

Ecological Window Replacements – Energy Efficient

It's not easy being green, but at Integrity it's part of the manufacturing philosophy: make a product able to withstand the power of the great outdoors, while preserving the natural resources from which it was made. Integrity's commitment to being green is demonstrated in the actual composition of the company's windows and doors, as well as in its manufacturing process. And it's a commitment that lives on throughout the life of the windows and doors, because they're made to be the most energy efficient, strongest products available today. This reduction of energy loss and product replacement means less waste.

Built to Perform, Integrity windows and doors combine durability and energy-efficiency that ultimately reduce the consumption of natural resources. Made with Ultrex, a super-tough pultruded fiberglass, Integrity windows and doors boast a durable structure and an impenetrable finish that stand the test of time. Such longevity and durability actually reduces the "consumption" of windows and doors.

The green attributes of Ultrex are also evident in one of its core materials - fiberglass, which is produced from silica sand. The reserves for this raw material are essentially unlimited. Integrity's fiberglass suppliers are also encouraged to be environmentally-conscious - some of the fiberglass raw materials are manufactured from recycled light bulbs.

Ultrex is also a very thermal-efficient material, which makes Integrity® windows and doors some of the most energy-efficient on the market, significantly exceeding vinyl and aluminum. Integrity windows and doors come standard with energy-saving insulated glass, with a Low E II coating that reflects or absorbs the sun's warmth, as well as an Argon gas filling that minimizes heat transfer. With thermal-efficient Ultrex and insulated glass, Integrity windows and doors don't just meet the U.S. Department of Energy and EPA's ENERGY STAR rating - they exceed it.

Integrity's exclusive supplier of Ultrex, Tecton Products, also incorporates an environmentally-friendly philosophy into its manufacturing methods by applying Maximum Achievable Control Technology to its production processes. The result is an impressive 97-percent destruction of volatile substances. With minimal impact on the environment, Tecton has been in compliance with the 1990 Clean Air Act since it opened its facilities in 1992. In fact, Tecton is the only pultrusion manufacturer to meet the high emissions standards set forth by the Act.

To further enhance environmental efficiency, Tecton's pultrusion process requires significantly less energy than the production of vinyl. And its patented coating technology produces no emissions.

At Integrity, recycling isn't just a program; it's a way of life. The goal of Integrity's Recycle/Re-Use Program is to reduce waste streams to "zero waste." Consider the exhaustive efforts throughout the facility - from using wood pallets and scraps for fuel recovery to recycling aluminum pop cans and paper. And, despite an increase in the number of employees and production levels, the Fargo, North Dakota, Integrity facility reduced its garbage delivery to landfills by one-third. This was accomplished through a variety of proactive efforts, including:

Compacting and recycling 225 tons of corrugated cardboard from vendor shipments Separating and recycling 4,000 pounds of plastic a year, including polyethylene films that have a very long lifespan Processing all metal shipping straps from vendors, recycling 3,348 pounds a year and re-using the rest Collecting and recycling nearly 6,000 pounds of aluminum per year, using 95 percent less energy than to produce it from scratch. Implementing quality control measures that check all incoming glass for usability and return non-usable and rejected glass to suppliers Recycling everyday items, including waster paper, aluminum cans, plastic pop bottles, magazines, and shredded documents amounting to nearly 15,000 pounds per year.

Author Notes:

Mary Kyra contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.replacement-windows-n-shutters.com. Find everything you need to know about replacement windows, shutters, tinting, basement, fiberglass windows and more.