Sustainability

Extrusions

We are proud to report that our aluminum extrusions are made of 70-75% recycled content (50-60% post-industrial, 10-20% post-consumer, and 30-35% virgin aluminum).

Similarly, our steel extrusions are made of 26.1% recycled content, of which 98.7% is pre-consumer recycled content and 1.3% is post-consumer recycled content.

All of our products are manufactured using naturally plentiful and sustainable metals. When their long useful lives eventually end, the metals will enter the recycling process to be reforged into new products, just as they found their way into your window and door extrusions, continuing the cycle of sustainability.

Wood

Most of the wood that we consume is used to build reinforced crates for packaging and shipping of our products. All crates are made from wood that meets the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) procurement standard and is compliant with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) guidelines.

For those who love wood windows and doors but want an eco-friendly option, our aluminum-wood clad products are made of aluminum at their core, with only a thin layer of wood on the interior of the frame. The result is a beautiful and cozy indoor space, with a fraction of the wood used in solid wood products.

For those looking to further reduce the carbon footprint of their build, but love the look of wood, we offer a Faux Wood finish that’s designed to mimic the visual texture and grain of real wood without the environmental impact.

Glass

We’ve partnered with the largest U.S. glass producers - Cardinal, Guardian, Vitro (formerly PPG), and Viracon - to source high-quality, eco-conscious glass products. These providers are committed to a sustainable future by recycling glass waste and using varying degrees of post-consumer recycled glass in new products.

Recycling

We recycle 100% of our aluminum scraps, diverting this valuable material from landfills and ensuring it can be upcycled into other products.

• In 2022, we recycled 179,741 lbs of Aluminum scraps
• In 2023, we recycled 201,936 lbs of Aluminum scraps

We also recycle cardboard, paper, plastic, and other recyclable materials.

Responsible Manufacturing

We are constantly evaluating new manufacturing machinery and methods with the hopes of reducing our environmental impact and carbon footprint.

• We use optimization software to plan extrusion cuts, thereby reducing material waste
• We use eco-friendly soaps and chemicals to prepare extrusions for powder coating
• We have a state-of-the-art automated powder coat machine that is calibrated to optimize powder usage without comprising on coat quality

Our journey is ongoing as we find new ways to minimize our carbon footprint and manufacture our products in a responsible and eco-friendly manner.

Sustainable Packaging

Orders are carefully packaged using eco-friendly and post-consumer recycled protective films, cardboard, and shrink wraps. Orders are then placed into custom-made reinforced crates made from sustainably harvested wood that is certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) and is compliant with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) guidelines. Our right-sized packaging lowers the weight of each shipment, resulting in reduced carbon emissions and shipping costs.

Long Life Cycles

One of the most impactful measures of a product's sustainability is its useful lifespan before needing to be replaced. Windows and doors made of aluminum, steel, stainless steel, or bronze are inherently durable and long-lasting, meaning they remain beautiful and functional decades after being manufactured. Unlike Vinyl and Fiberglass products that have a shorter life expectancy, our products are designed to last a lifetime without bending or warping. The naturally long lifespan of our products reduces the need for replacement windows and doors, dramatically reducing waste and environmental impact.

Thermal Efficiency

We combine modern thermal break technologies with advanced weatherstripping, and high-performance Low-E double- or triple-glazed glass filled with Argon gas to minimize heat transfer and create energy-efficient and climate-resistant spaces. Our thermally broken products reject solar heat gain in the summer and reduce heat loss in winter, while still filling indoor spaces with natural daylight year-round.

ENERGY STAR®

ENERGY STAR® certification standards are determined by the U.S. government and vary in different areas of the country (i.e. Southern standards differ from Northern standards, etc.). Please see our product pages for detailed energy ratings.

Energy Certification

We engineer our products to meet the most demanding energy standards and certifications. Most of our products undergo third-party testing and certification by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). The comprehensive 11-step evaluation process is followed by computer-generated modeling for added validation.

NFRC ratings measure:

• U-Factor (insulating ability)
• Visible transmittance (VT)
• Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC)
• Air leakage

Please see our product pages for detailed NFRC ratings.

Finishes

We offer four eco-friendly inert finish options for our products: powder coat, kynar paint, anodize, and faux wood. These sustainable finishes do not release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), never need refinishing, and are safe for the environment.

The US Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification program awards residential and commercial builds with credits for sustainable practices that improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, conserve water and resources, and enhance occupant health.

Though LEED certification is voluntary, it signals that sustainability was a key feature in the design, construction, and operation of the building. And while the LEED certification process is rigorous, LEED-certified buildings report 30-60% less energy usage than comparable buildings built to the International Energy Conservation Code.

While products themselves cannot be individually certified, thoughtful design and use of Panda's products can help projects earn valuable LEED points in several credit categories.

Energy & Atmosphere

EA Prerequisite 2: Minimum Energy Performance

• Panda's energy efficient products combine thermally broken extrusions with high-performance glass and advanced weatherstripping to maximize energy performance. Panda's energy performance values are third party certified by the NFRC.

EA Credit 1: Optimize Energy Performance

• Select Panda products meet ENERGY STAR® program requirements for residential windows and doors. Please see our product pages for specific NFRC ratings on U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) values.

Materials & Resources

MR Credit 4.1: Recycled Content & MR Credit 4.2 Recycled Content

• 1 or 2 pts if project materials are 10% or 20% of post-consumer + 1/2 pre-consumer recycled content.

Panda's aluminum extrusions are comprised of, on average, 70-75% recycled content (50-60% post-industrial, 10-20% post-consumer, and 30-35% virgin aluminum).

Indoor Environmental Air Quality

EQ Prerequisite 1: Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance

• Panda's windows and doors open up areas typically blocked by walls, maximizing air flow and ventilation to enhance indoor air quality.

EQ Credit 2: Increased Ventilation

• Panda's products can help increase fresh air intake to achieve 30% higher breathing zone ventilation rates than ASHRAE 62.1-2004 minimums.

EQ Credit 4.1: Low-Emitting Materials, Adhesives & Sealants

• Panda's products use weatherproofing gaskets and sealants free of harmful indoor air contaminants.

EQ Credit 4.2: Low-Emitting Materials, Paint & Coatings

• Panda's factory powder coat finish is cured at more than 400 degrees Fahrenheit, eliminating emission of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

EQ Credit 4.4 Low-Emitting Materials, Composite Wood & Agrifiber

• Panda's solid wood systems are provided without Urea Formaldehyde Resins, eliminating indoor air contaminants that are odorous, irritating, and or harmful to the well-being of occupants.

EQ Credit 7.1: Thermal Comfort, Design

• Panda's NFRC-rated U-Factor and SHGC values can be used in building envelope modeling to achieve desired energy performance and create comfortable thermal environments, per ASHRAE 55-2004 standards.

EQ Credit 8.1: Daylight & Views, Daylight

• This is where we shine! Panda's products are designed to fill indoor spaces with natural daylight year-round.

EQ Credit 8.2: Daylight & Views, Views

• This is one of our favorite credit categories. Panda's products are best when they're large and facing outdoor spaces. Thoughtful placement of Panda's windows and doors results in direct sight lines between a building and the surrounding nature, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor connection.

While there is no inherently 'Title 24 Compliant' product, Panda's energy efficient products can help your project achieve the energy efficiency needed to meet California 's Title 24 compliance. Full compliance requires working closely with your local energy consultant to produce the complete Title 24 Energy Calculation for your project. Panda's energy efficient products can be an important piece in reaching Title 24 compliance, but many factors go into the full calculation.