Sustainability
You care about the environment, and so do we
In 2007, we developed Rainier’s Sustainability Initiative and are working toward going green in all aspects of our company, from how we manage our plant to the manufacturing of products, the shipping and installation of our products and ultimately what happens to our products at the end of their useful life.
In 2008 we launched a formal Environmental Management System and we became certified in ISO 14001:2004 in May of 2009. We strive in our daily operations to use environmentally friendly products that will protect our natural resources, to reduce our energy consumption and to recycle the bulk of our solid waste. Rainier also encourages employees to be more environmentally sensitive away from work and to do their part in reducing our carbon footprint by using alternative methods of transportation for commuting to and from work.
We take pride in providing our customers with products that are produced using sustainable materials. We use wood harvested only from sustainable forests and treat it with non-solvent preservatives. Use of PVC based fabrics are being minimized and our printers use UV cured water soluble inks. We are continually looking for innovative ways to incorporate eco-friendly materials into our products.
Sustainability is not just another catch phrase; it is an initiative that is part of our mission statement and put into practice every day. The team at Rainier is committed to helping protect and preserve our natural resources for future generations.
Go Green With A Rainier Screen
We know that being environmentally friendly is important to our customers. Adding an awning or screen to your home can reduce your carbon footprint in a couple ways:
Using an awning or exterior screen to cool a home is an energy efficient alternative to cooling your home with traditional air conditioning. We participated in funding and research for an independent study which found that shading with a screen or awning can reduce cooling costs here in the Seattle area by over 60%! Our exterior screens keep as much as 85% of the heat from the sun from cranking up the temperature in your living room.
Nearly all of the components of our screens and awnings are manufactured in-house, so they’re not being imported from overseas. It’s estimated that about 25% of the total carbon footprint generated today comes from the movement of goods between international companies. This is called “embedded emissions,” and it’s pretty interesting – Carbon Trust is the company leading the way in research on the topic, and you can read their article on embedded emissions here.