Superior Windows & Doors

How can Superior Windows & Doors help you?
Our industry has awakened to the fact that we all need to be green. There are many shades of green and more variations popping up each month.

We are here to help you to understand the differences and find the products that best fit your needs and wants.

This page will be updated often as our industry tightens it's requirements and specific manufacturers continue to improve their product lines.

What's new in Oregon and Jackson County?
The State of Oregon has announced it's new 2008 Residential Energy Code.

What does to mean to "Go Green"?
In general it means to live an environmentally friendly lifestyle.
To most government agencies it means to meet Energy Star® requirements.

What does it mean to your pocket book or wallet?
There are various "shades of green". Whether you are looking at the different levels of energy efficiency available on our vinyl windows or beautiful doors made from FSC certified woods the financial impact can vary greatly.

In some building or remodeling areas going green can cost more than yesterday’s technology. We are lucky because we are able to offer you energy efficient vinyl windows and fiberglass doors that do not cost more.

Vinyl windows are so inexpensive and energy efficient that they can actually pay for themselves in 4-5 years. We have found that additional energy savings (up to 23% more) can be obtained in vinyl windows (for a nominal up charge) and the payback period remains the same 4-5 years.

Upgrading to formaldehyde-free interior doors, as an example, can cost as much as 30% more than yesterdays doors, however in the average home that means an increase of only about $300 to $500. A small price to pay for your indoor air quality.

That being said, Superior Windows & Doors' standard solid core interior doors are made from rapidly renewable wheat straw cores that contain no-added formaldehyde at NO EXTRA CHARGE.

What is Energy Star?
A program sponsored by the US Department of Energy which establishes minimum performance standards for windows to be recognized as energy efficient.

Currently windows must have a U-Factor of .35 or lower to be Energy Star compliant.

Note: In Oregon any door that is more than 40% glass is considered a window when it comes to energy performance requirements.

Update: The Dept. of Energy has released the new requirements to be Energy Star compliant. Effective Jan 4th 2010 windows will need to have a U-Factor of .30 or lower.

What is GREEN Building?
Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use energy, water, and materials, and reducing building impacts on human health and the environment.

What are GREEN building materials?
The Green Building Resource Guide defines green building materials and products as having at least one of the following characteristics: nontoxic, recycled content, resource efficient; long life cycle, or environmentally conscious.

Are vinyl windows GREEN?
The U.S. Green Building Council has determined that vinyl windows can be used in LEED-certified projects.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.

LOWER HOME ENERGY BILLS

With heating and cooling prices at all-time highs, can you afford to select anything but the most energy-efficient windows and doors for your home?

Our energy efficient windows and doors are designed specifically to provide exceptional thermal performance.

Most window owners experience a significant decrease in home energy consumption — because all of our windows are Energy Star® compliant, and some are even better.

WHAT IS LOW-E GLASS?

In warm weather Low-E coatings reflect outside heat away from your windows —while still allowing light in. This reduces the amount of time your home cooling system will need to run, saving you money and energy.

In cold weather, the Low-E coatings reflect heat back inside—so your home stays warmer. This reduces the time your heating system needs to run, saving you money and energy.

Are wood windows GREEN?
Earth Advantage suggests using certified wood verified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or SFI (Sustainable Forest Initiative) while LEED certified projects require FSC woods be used.

• The majority of Kolbe and Kolbe’s wood comes from managed forests that embrace sustainable practices and some mills that are currently certified by the SFI and FSC.
• Over 70% of the wood used by Andersen Windows is currently from certified forests.

Are fiberglass doors GREEN?
Earth Advantage says that a fiberglass door is a better choice than a wood door because:
• Fiberglass doors lower the pressure on wood products and the environmental services that forests provide.
• Fiberglass doors need to be replaced less often. Durable materials avoid the embodied energy costs of the materials needed to replace less long-lived products.
• The foam insulation in these doors improves energy efficiency.

Door Type	U-Factor	SHGC	EarthAdvantage Compliant	Energy Star
Fiberglass No Glass Insert	.15	.03	a	a
A fiberglass door with no glass insert offers the best thermal performance.
Fiberglass ¼ Lite – ½” IG	.19	.07	a	a
Fiberglass ¼ Lite -Decorative	.18	.06	a	a
A fiberglass door with a small glass insert, such as a ½ moon pattern, will give your home more aesthetic appeal while still having very good thermal performance.
Fiberglass ½ Lite – Decorative	.25	.20	r	a
Fiberglass Full Lite – Decorative	.31	.33	r	a
Fiberglass doors with larger decorative glass inserts are still Energy Star compliant and make a great first impression for your home.
Fiberglass Full Lite – Low-E	.31	.34	r	a
Simpson Fir Full Lite – Low-E	.36	.19	r	r
Simpson Fir 10 Lite – Low-E	.43	.26	r	r
Although, in our opinion, nothing beats the beauty of real wood, when it comes to the energy efficiency of your doors you can’t beat a fiberglass door.

Are wood doors GREEN?
Simpson Door Company, for example, makes every attempt to use wood from certified forests for its doors. Approximately 85% of their resources are from one of the following:
1. A source which operates a certification program.
2. Sustained yield forests with certifications such as ISO 14001, FSC, SFI and CSA.
3. Recycled materials such as strand lumber, fiberboard and wheat board.

Other door manufacturers we represent have varying degrees of certified woods in their products.

Caoba Doors manufactures some of their doors using wood 100% verified by the FSC. These beautiful doors are made from mahogany, cherry or oak.

Following is a list of energy partners and agencies that can help you to save energy and money: