Green Homes: What Does It Really Mean?

One of the popular home improvement trends nowadays is green homes. This can mean different things to different people, which is why the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) conducted a study regarding consumer green preferences.

The NAHB 2015 Study

This year, the NAHB conducted a consumer preference study focusing on green and high-performance features of homes. It examined consumers’ attitudes on features, concepts and their potential marketing tools, and likelihood of decision-making when it comes to going green. The results varied by age, race, income, and other demographic factors.

According to the study, homeowners associate the term “green” with several factors:

● Energy efficiency, efficient, and high efficiency – This made up for 32% of respondents.
● Eco-friendly, environmentally friendly, environmentally safe – This made up for 15% of respondents.
● Lower costs, lower utility bills, and saves money – This made up for 4% of respondents.

Based on these results, homeowners are looking for efficient, sustainable, and money-saving options to create better homes. These can include sustainable and efficient patio doors or replacement windows in Lake Oswego and other US states. These products are what homeowners value most, and according to the NAHB’s study, 88% of the respondents consider energy efficiency as a top influencer when it comes to home improvement decisions.

The Renewal by Andersen® Difference

Renewal by Andersen of Central Illinois has stood by sustainable development for years. We help create healthier homes through our windows and patio doors. We ensure energy-efficient and environmentally friendly products through:

1. Sustainable materials

For every patio door and  window replacement in Salem, Oregon, we use our composite Fibrex® material and High-Performance™ Low-E4® glass packages. Fibrex is twice as strong as vinyl, insulates home like wood, and contains 40% reclaimed wood fiber by weight.

Our glass, on the other hand, contains a minimum of 12% reclaimed glass by weight. It cuts down on energy costs, reduces water spots, and blocks harmful ultraviolet rays. Our glass options can also reduce noise pollution. Together with Fibrex, these materials make up for a long-lasting and efficient window.

2. Smart energy use

According to the US Department of Energy, windows alone account for 40% of annual energy costs. We reduce these costs by using insulating frames, special coatings, spacers, and inert gases for our windows. These components result in savings of up to 25%.

3. Better indoor air quality

Clean indoor air is important for your health, which is why we provide responsibly manufactured products that create fresh indoor environments for you and your family. Through our efforts, we have achieved the Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) Indoor Advantage Gold™ certification. This means we have met the strictest indoor air emission standard in the country.

If you want to create green homes, start with our windows and patio doors. You can call us at for a free consultation.