Warroad, Minn., March 4, 2010 – The Tropical Forest Foundation has named Steve Tourek, senior vice president and general counsel for Marvin Windows and Doors, as the new president of the organization’s board of directors.

The foundation is an international non-profit dedicated to sustainable forest management in the tropics, working with conservation groups, government agencies and companies that manufacture wood products to promote training, outreach and research pertaining to sustainable forest management in tropical regions around the world. Tourek is also chairman of the Window & Door Manufacturers Association.

Marvin has long been committed to sustainability in many forms: manufacturing energy-efficient windows and doors, maximizing recycling and reducing waste, and encouraging sustainable forestry practices. Tourek’s leadership in TFF is another example in a long history of environmentally oriented initiatives and accomplishments from Marvin.

“This company is driven to not just build beautiful windows and doors of great value but also to act as responsible stewards of our beautiful environment for future generations.,” Tourek said. “As close partners, we’ve seen the great work the Tropical Forest Foundation is doing on the ground. Its training centers and demonstration models, as well as research and outreach, are positively impacting what is actually taking place in the world. More concessions are better managed, more viable, more conducive to maintaining biodiversity and more supportive of communities whose long-term livelihood is dependent upon the economics of their forests. I look forward to serving and contributing to TFF’s mission with my fellow directors.”

For more information on TFF, visit www.tropicalforestfoundation.org.

WARROAD, Minn. – Marvin Windows and Doors’ continues its commitment to green principles with the addition of FSC-certified (QMI-COC-001058) and SFI-certified woods.  These third-party chain of custody certifications from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the Forest Stewardship Council will be available on Marvin windows and patio doors.  All Marvin wood species will be available as FSC-certified and pine, Douglas fir, oak, cherry, maple, walnut and vertical grain Douglas fir will be available as SFI-certified.

SFI Inc. is a fully independent, charitable organization dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management. Their forest certification standard is based on principles that promote sustainable forest management, including measures to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk, and forests with exceptional conservation value.

FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests.

The FSC label provides a credible link between responsible production and consumption of forest products, enabling consumers and businesses to make purchasing decisions that benefit people and the environment as well as providing ongoing business value.

Not only do these certifications matter to builders, architects, remodelers and homeowners who care about environmental sustainability, but they can be an important part of obtaining designations such as LEED.  The wood used in Marvin’s wood and clad-wood windows and patio doors is not only an important design element, but also a valuable way to help protect our world’s forests.

Lou shows us a residential wind turbine from Windtronics as well as GAF’s reflective shingles and ventilation systems for cooling your roof — thereby reducing cooling costs and energy use on warm days.

Lou spoke with Kevin Morrow, senior program manager for NAHB, about products builders can use to improve a home’s energy efficiency and Michael Still of Marvin Windows and Doors about SFI and FSC certification. These “green” certification programs ensure that products add value to your home and are healthy for the environment.

Check out these facts on U.S. energy use:

• Heating and cooling account for about half of home energy use, according to the U.S. Department of Energy
• 40 percent of residential energy use is from homes built before 1970, according to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies
• Energy-efficient windows can save up to 25% on home heating and cooling costs, according to the Department of Energy

Energy-efficient windows are one of the smartest investments a homeowner can make. Not only will they save up to 25% on heating and cooling costs, but they’re one of the top five most cost-effective improvements, according to Remodeling magazine’s annual survey.

High-quality wood replacement windows typically return about 77 percent of their cost on resale, according to the survey.

And here’s another fascinating fact, from the DOE’s Home Energy Saver: When the temperature is 0 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the inner glass surface of a single-pane window is about 15 degrees!

Replacing that old single-pane window with a typical double pane will raise the inner glass temperature to 45 degrees, while a high-efficiency window will yield an inner glass surface temperature of 60 degrees.

The federal government is offering a tax credit of up to $1,500 in 2010 for replacing old windows with new, energy-efficient windows from Marvin Windows and Doors. With ongoing savings on heating and cooling bills – as well as increased comfort and value for your home – it adds up to a compelling case for looking into replacement.

Marvin is offering a free, downloadable 20-page guide to replacement that will walk you through the process, from assessing your current windows to working with a contractor. This could be your window of opportunity for more economical, efficient, comfortable living.

Image courtesy of glenngold via flickr.

Brett Boyum, director of marketing

 Green Day at IBS got off to a great start with some fascinating insights from a news conference featuring Brett Boyum, director of marketing for Marvin Windows and Doors, along with Ed Linder of Whirlpool Corp. and Shane Judd from Kohler Co.

These three companies, longtime leaders in green manufacturing, sponsored this year’s Green Day.

Boyum stressed a holistic approach to sustainability, pointing out that “green” is more than just putting a product in a box. Companies that are truly concerned with sustainability will live out their commitment in all aspects of their operations, from recycling, to efficient manufacturing and transportation, to designing durability and quality into their products for longer life. (Learn more about Marvin’s green commitment here.)

Truly sustainable products are built to perform for the long term, according to Boyum. “It’s not just whether you can be energy efficient out of the box,” he said. “Will it still be energy efficient in 10 years?”

Learn  more about Kohler and Whirlpool green initiatives.