Natre contributes to sustainable renovation
The environmental benefits of renovating, rather than demolishing and building new, are becoming more widely known in Norway. Many of these renovation projects also require that products and contractors comply with standards for sustainable procurement. This was the case in the St. Hanshaugen housing renovation where Natre supplied certified quality windows and doors.
The St. Hanshaugen housing association in Elverum, Norway is located only an hour away from the site where Natre windows are produced. Several years ago, the housing board started discussing replacing the 25-year-old windows in the apartments and communal areas to reduce electricity consumption and improve indoor comfort.
To finance the renovation project of replacing 280 windows and 32 balcony doors, the housing association needed to take out a loan. The conditions of the loan required the contractor to sign NS-ISO 20400 that defines standards for sustainable procurement. This included the need for suppliers to act ethically and for the project to use FSC-certified products.
Sustainability requirements of this type are gaining momentum in the Norwegian construction market and Natre products are well placed to meet them. Natre products are SINTEF-certified and can document that they do not contain any environmental toxins or substances that are damaging for health or the environment. Furthermore, they are produced close to the St. Hanshaugen housing complex in the Gjøvik factory, which also impacted the assessment positively.
With their documented profile, the board could invest in new windows from Natre and the renovation project was completed during 2024. St. Hanshaugen residents can now face the coming winters in comfort and with a reduced electricity bill thanks to the energy savings created by their new windows and balcony doors.
