What is Universal Design?

Universal Design is the practice of incorporating products for the “built” environment that are both aesthetic and usable by everyone, regardless of their age or physical abilities.

Why is Universal Design important?

In 2010, 80 million baby boomers in the U.S. reached the age of 65 or older. In a survey conducted by AARP, nearly 90% of these baby boomers expressed the desire to stay in their homes as they age. Earthwise windows and doors meet all criteria for use in Universal Design.

Earthwise products align with the three principles of Universal Design:

Stabilizing or reducing the cost of home ownership through energy efficiency

Earthwise products are ENERGY STAR certified and meet the highest performance standards in the industry. Energy-saving features and options include insulating glass with Warm Edge spacers, low‐E coatings, and argon gas. We also offer foam-filled mainframes and sashes, composite reinforcements and more. Earthwise windows and doors can help you save hundreds, up to thousands, of dollars each year on your energy bills.

Providing reasonably-priced products that are easy to install and use

Earthwise windows and doors are custom built to fit perfectly inside an existing opening with minimal disruption to trim, frame and siding. They're also very easy to operate. We build over a million windows a year, so we're a popular choice for builders, remodelers and homeowners. You'll have many choices to enhance your décor, such as a rich, millwork-finished look and a wide range of grid selections, colors and hardware options.

Providing quality products with low maintenance requirements and very long life cycles

Earthwise products are maintenance free—and worry free. Our windows and doors are backed by a transferable, Limited Lifetime Manufacturer's Warranty.