By inournature on September 27, 2012
The first annual Green Apple Day of Service is taking place across the country and around the world Saturday, September 29, 2012. The U.S. Green Building Council’s Center for Green Schools, along with students, teachers, parents, local chapter members and other green building advocates worldwide are coming together to support healthy, sustainable schools through grass roots community action.
Events are planned to raise awareness and help make school learning environments healthier and more sustainable. Students in the Bronx, NY have planned a recycling relay. Others are making posters and planting gardens and indigenous trees to educate students about living and learning in a sustainable world.
The goal for the Center for Green Schools is to ensure every student has the opportunity to attend a green school in this generation . The organization seeks to transform outdated, often unhealthy schools into safe, comfortable facilities fostering engaged student learning, and they’ve put together this cool video telling us about it.
Activities planned from Africa to Canada, China to Brazil are registered on the Green Apple events page. Find an event in your community by entering your zip code here! Follow The Center for Green Schools on Twitter @mygreenschools.
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By inournature on September 20, 2012
The first annual US Green Building Council-MN IMPACT Conference was held in Minneapolis, MN this week and definitely made an impact! The day was filled with discussions around green schools, integrating sustainability into healthcare facilities and benchmarking building performance. But it was the closing keynote speaker, Interface Vice President George Bandy Jr., who stole the show!
Bandy began his presentation illustrating the benefits of biomimicry – studying and emulating forms, processes and natural systems for inspiration and design. Velcro, for example, was invented by a Swiss engineer after studying the burrs he removed from his dog. Bandy referenced author Janine M. Benyus and her book Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. He reminded us that in nature there is no such thing as waste. After nearly 4 billion years of research and development nature has figured out what works best.
George Bandy also spoke of social justice and reminded us that our society is still in a state of emergency. At our current rate of consumption we’ll be handing checks to our grandchildren stamped, ‘insufficient natural resources’. In the familiar cadence and tone of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Bandy delivered his speech entitled, “I too, Have a Dream”. In it he addressed sustainable design, basic human needs and sustainability as a journey, one which cannot be rescinded. He ended by saying, “I dream of that day when children of all countries and nationalities are looked upon with a check marked ‘Natural Systems Needed for Life-PAID IN FULL’.”
Were you there? Share your thoughts on Bandy’s speech.If not, we’re interested in your reaction to these ideas. Please share your comments.
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By inournature on September 13, 2012
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Minnesota Chapter is holding their first IMPACT Conference next week near Minneapolis, MN. This year’s theme, building a strong sustainable future, seeks to connect people, places and ideas in an effort to achieve their vision for sustainable buildings and communities.
The all day event kicks off with an awards ceremony for the Natural Talent Design Competition. The competition helps facilitate green building collaboration between aspiring architects, designers, the professional community and the Chapter. Immediately following the awards, Corey Enck, Director of LEED Technical Development will offer the latest updates around the transformation toward LEED v4.
The day continues with keynote speakers and breakout sessions addressing high performance buildings, benchmarking and measuring metrics, and affordable clean power. George Bandy, Vice President Interface, wraps the day as the keynote speaker discussing Sustainability within Reach.
Andersen Corporation is a charter member of USGBC and strongly supports the vision and efforts put forth by local and national members. In the spirit of author Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
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By inournature on August 28, 2012
As summer comes to an end we say goodbye to 32 students who have participated in this year’s internship program at Andersen Corporation. After watching a full day of fine presentations it’s tough to say who gained more from the experience, the interns or those of us who worked with them for the short time they were here!
This extremely talented pool of young professionals immersed themselves in departments throughout the organization ranging from engineering to finance, supply chain management and communications. With an average GPA of 3.7 they learned quickly, conducted research and reported their findings. Each student was assigned a manager and mentors to guide them through their work. Their final presentations offered new data and ideas around areas including compressed air optimization, leveraging social media and waste wood reusability, to name just a few.
Andersen Corporation 2012 Summer Interns
Andersen has been fortunate to have a group of interns each summer since the mid 1990’s. This year’s students are current enrollees at Marquette University, Iowa State University, Luther College, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin, University of Michigan, University of St. Thomas and University of Notre Dame. In addition to tackling their respective projects, the interns volunteered together for Brush with Kindness, a division of Habitat for Humanity and Feed my Starving Children. The internship program offers mutual benefits as students gain real-life experience and Andersen catches a glimpse of what may lie ahead in our future leaders.
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By inournature on August 23, 2012
There’s a new and unusual-looking container located alongside the cafeteria loading dock at our corporate headquarters in Minnesota. The green, cylindrical canister perched high upon a stand is our new compost bin! We’re extremely excited to start turning our employee cafeteria scraps into dirt!
Compost bin located in employee vegetable garden
With the expert help from our local county office, we measured and weighed our non-meat and dairy food waste for two weeks. From that data, we estimated the required bin size for our waste; this bin holds 168 gallons of compost! We also placed a compost bin in our employee vegetable garden. Our cafeteria already partners with a local company, Sanimax, to recycle its used vegetable oil.
Composting – and using composted material – offer many benefits. For instance, using compost material can help reduce the need for chemical fertilizers, promote higher crop yields and offer other environmental and economic savings. Read more about the benefits of composted and how to get started.
Did You Know? According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), yard trimmings and food residuals together make up 27% of the U.S. waste stream. More than 34 million tons of food waste was generated in 2010. Such food waste has significant economic and environmental consequences. Food waste disposed in landfills quickly rots, becoming a significant source of methane. Methane gas is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG), with 21 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide, according to the EPA.
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By inournature on August 10, 2012
We recently awarded the 8th annual Garofalo Volunteer Service Award to Johan Nielsen, Information Technology manager at our Corporate Administrative Offices in Oak Park Heights, Minn. This award is presented to employees exhibiting exemplary volunteer efforts. Every year it’s a tough decision, as helping people in need is second nature to many Andersen employees.
Nielsen (second from left) helps fellow volunteers carry a structural insulated panel (SIP) to a Habitat home under construction in River Falls, Wis.
“I’m a firm believer that if everyone in the world found ways to contribute, many problems such as poverty and homelessness would be non-existent,” said Nielsen. His philosophy of paying it forward is evident in his many long, hot hours building and teaching others how to build, on over 50 Habitat for Humanity homes. In addition to endless hours swinging a hammer, Nielsen contributed his computer skills to create a new website for the St. Croix Valley Habitat affiliate. Local food shelves, Junior Achievement, United Way, Multiple Sclerosis Society and Family Means also benefit from this award winner’s volunteer time.
Honorable mention in 2012 goes to Bernie Avery, IT Systems analyst at our Strathroy, Ontario, plant and Mark Kilgore, engineering supervisor at our Dubuque, Iowa facility. Both are longtime Scouting volunteers. More than 20 nominees were recognized for their time and service to others. The Garofalo Volunteer Service Award is highly regarded among nominees, peers and our leaders; it’s one way we live our values.
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By inournature on August 1, 2012
Last week, 50 Andersen employees volunteered to help kick off Habitat for Humanity’s Eco-Village project, located in River Falls, Wis. Habitat, in partnership with the St. Croix Institute for Sustainable Community Development and others, has designed an entire community focused on sustainability, including affordability.
Andersen employees and future home owner carry a Structural Insulating Panel (SIP) wall.
The three-year project will boast 18 LEED Platinum homes operating at net-zero energy or even carbon negative – producing more renewable energy than total energy (fossil or other) consumed. Other environmental goals include a 50% reduction in potable water use through storm water retention and xeriscaping, and 90% construction waste diverted from landfills. The project addresses environmental, economic and socially responsible design ensuring a healthy climate, a strong economy and a vibrant community.
Andersen Corporation has been an avid supporter of Habitat for Humanity for nearly two decades and we’re happy to have donated energy efficient windows, financial support and manpower to the cause. The green ethos of this project combines Andersen’s values of corporate citizenship, innovation and partnership with our key philanthropic focus areas of affordable housing and environmental stewardship. We look forward to watching this neighborhood grow and become a beacon for sustainable development.
Andersen employees raise the walls!
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By inournature on July 20, 2012
We get excited about building and design working at Andersen. Right now, we’re excited about the new Sunset magazine Idea House by Blu Homes, a leading manufacturer of modular, sustainable homes. Blu Homes calls it the Breezehouse and it’s an updated and more spacious version of the company’s original Breezehouse, which debuted in 2005.
Set in beautiful Healdsburg, California, the 2012 Breezehouse is the latest in Sunset magazine’s annual Idea House series, giving visitors the chance to experience the latest in innovative home design. The Breezehouse features advanced building technology, a design ideal for indoor-outdoor living, and the highest sustainability and quality standards, which include Andersen windows and doors.
With expansive gliding patio doors, an elevated deck, exquisite landscaping and a detached “Breeze Pod” living space, the home melds with the allure of the California wine country. Opening for tours August 21, the Breezehouse originally debuted for a “Factory Preview” in April at the company’s Vellejo, CA facility located in the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard.
To learn more about the Breezehouse and its construction, or this weekend’s Sunset Idea Home opening, follow along as the home is designed, constructed, assembled and decorated, by visiting http://bit.ly/Mrx8cu.
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By inournature on July 18, 2012
Each year, we have the pleasure of awarding one talented high school student a $2,000.00 scholarship based on their artistic talent. Andersen Corporation began this scholarship in honor of Alice M. Stolpe, a regional artist who supported Andersen’s community art program for more than three decades.
To enter, students must be a graduating senior from Eastern Minnesota or Western Wisconsin who will be majoring in art during the following year. Along with an application and essay component, students must submit a piece to the Annual Area High School Art Exhibition at The Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, WI. The art is then judged by a professional artist or arts educator from the region, who awards a ribbon for first place, second place, third place, and any other pre-determined category.
The 2012 Alice M. Stolpe scholarship was awarded to Hudson High School 2012 graduate, Nadja Mataya, who entered the pictured painting. Nadja will attend the University of Wisconsin – Madison in the fall.
Congratulations, Nadja! Here at Andersen Corporation, we are happy to be able to support you as you pursue your education and continue to advance your artistic abilities.
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By inournature on June 26, 2012
We’re very pleased to announce the e-publication of our 2011 Corporate Sustainability Report (CSR), a first for the company. The report is available to download here. The Andersen CSR was prepared with reference to the 2002 Global Reporting Initiative™ Guidelines – providing a comprehensive summary of Andersen’s approach to sustainable business practices from three perspectives: corporate citizenship, environmental stewardship and product development.
Andersen’s legacy of corporate sustainability traces back to the company’s early days when minimizing production waste, standardizing window frames, and responsibly managing materials became part of our corporate culture. Today, 99 percent of our Bayport manufacturing materials are beneficially used. Andersen was also one of the first window manufacturer partners accepted into the Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® Program. This year Andersen received the ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award recognizing Andersen as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Product Manufacturer, Windows Category, for three consecutive years.
Achievements detailed in the report include:
- Reducing energy impact by 22 percent over the last 5 years; and, from 2007 to 2011, the corporation realized more than $3 million in energy savings due to energy reduction projects, behavioral changes and production volume.
- Receiving the ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award in 2012. This award recognizes Andersen as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Product Manufacturer, Windows Category, for three consecutive years.
- Donating more than $50 million to nonprofit organizations via the Andersen Corporate Foundation in the communities where Andersen employees live and work.
Andersen’s report includes a summary of the company’s philanthropic efforts, including work with Habitat for Humanity, donating energy efficient windows, sponsoring homes, and encouraging employee volunteer support. The report features information on key employee programs that contribute to the company’s overall health and recognizes the impact a healthy, engaged workforce can have in meeting future sustainability goals.
We’re very pleased with the result and our commitment to sustainable business practices.
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