Since I am the Communications intern at Therma-Tru doors, and am the leader of the green initiatives movement at the Maumee location, I decided it would great to showcase all I know about Therma-Tru and what it means for them to be green.
As the pioneer of fiberglass exterior door industry and the most preferred brand in the business, Therma-Tru is committed to the responsible use of natural resources in creating high-performance entry and patio door systems. Therma-Tru’s environmental responsibility page of their Web site highlights their green initiatives, which include energy efficiency, durability, recycled content in their products and recycling.
Energy Efficiency
Ninety-eight percent of Therma-Tru fiberglass door systems are ENERGY STAR rated and filled with CFC-free polyurethane foam to offer five times more insulation than wood. The tight seal that exists by designing complete systems with components that work together creates an energy efficient envelope for the home, stabilizing the interior temperature and decreasing energy costs.
Durability
Because fiberglass doors don’t crack, swell, split or rot like wood doors, their long-term durability reduces the frequency of replacement.
Recycled Content
Therma-Tru qualifies recycled products for its composite wood end rails and sill substrates (materials in the bottom and top of the door) including recycled wood chips, diapers and plastic bottles. Also, the wood products used in Therma-Tru Door systems such as the door frame components come from managed forests.
Recycling
Therma-Tru takes extra measures to recycle waste products in their plants, including steel, propane canisters, wood, cut-outs and scrap doors. I know that in the Maumee facility, Therma-Tru associates have recycled over 6.53 tons of paper in 2008 thus far.
Green building standards
Since, the building products industry is trying to agree on a widely-accepted standard on how to validate building practices on how to be environmentally friendly, many different organizations including National Association of Home Builders, NAHB, and U.S. Green Building Council, USGBC, have created standards for green building. USGBC has developed LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the national benchmark for design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. Therma-Tru doors can contribute points in the Energy category, the Materials category and in the Innovation and Design category.
Therma-Tru doors can also contribute 128 points to NAHB National Green Building program in the resource efficiency, energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality categories.
Interesting. Too market-ese in spots, and some concepts could use further explanation, but good. ***