Andersen Strives to be 'Good Next-Door Neighbor' to new Bald Eagle Family

Andersen Windows has new neighbors—of the raptor variety.

Of all the places along the St. Croix River Valley that a bald eagle family could build a home, they chose to nest in a tree right next door to Andersen’s factory in Bayport.

Just this month, two eaglets were hatched, and according to Susan Roeder of Andersen, raptor experts say the bald eagles could be living there for years to come.

“Since they're going to be next-door neighbors, Andersen wanted to start things off on the right foot,” Roeder said. “So we held a unique luncheon on Earth Day to teach employees how to be good neighbors to bald eagles.”

Andersen invited Jennifer Vieth, the executive director of the Carpenter Nature Center, and Andy Weaver, the Field Biology teacher from Stillwater High School, to answer employee questions about bald eagles.

“The idea is to help employees learn how to behave around bald eagles,” Roeder said. “We always boast that a great population of our employees are conservationists who love nature and critters. So there is a lot of excitement about beginning something so unique.”

Many of Andersen’s employees remember when bald eagles were on the Endangered Species list.

“Now that bald eagles have lived through that and are more prolific, they put up shop right here,” she said. “We can watch them from the window.”

If the eagles raise healthy eaglets, experts say that will mean the food supply is plentiful and the environment is right for a nest, Roeder said. If that happens, Andersen and the bald eagle family could be neighbors for the next 25-30 years.

“That’s exciting,” she said. “It’s very Andersen-esque. We like being in long-term relationships.”

Corporate Social Responsibility Report

Andersen Windows also issued its annual Corporate Social Responsibility report on Earth Day, which Roeder explains as a snapshot of Andersen’s continued progress toward meeting environmental stewardship goals, as well as acting as a measure of accountability for motivation to do more each year.

“Our employees are always working on new projects that are fun and have some real depth,” she said. ”There is not a department in charge of sustainability, it is common practice for everyone here. It’s a key part of everyone’s role, and we do it with enthusiasm.”

A few examples of Andersen’s achievements highlighted in the report include:

• Trucking Fleet Switches from diesel fuel to Compressed Natural Gas: Resulted in an average reduction in ozone-forming emissions of 80 percent compared to diesel.
• Off-Grid in Yellowstone: Yellowstone National Park is working to create a model for off-grid environmental stewardship and Andersen donated 400 Series energy efficient windows for the renovation of 17 residential cabins in the park. The cabins have shown an average of a 50-percent reduction in fuel usage per month from the same time last year.
• Eco Village in River Falls: Habitat is building 18 homes and a community center on five acres of land that will share renewable energy systems (solar and geothermal) walkways, community produce gardens, “edible landscapes” and shared green spaces. Andersen donated $100,000 and windows for the homes, which will assist them in reaching LEED for homes Platinum and LEED-ND gold.
• Re-using Materials: 98.5 percent of all material that comes into the facility Andersen uses in a meaningful way.
• Steam Generator Runs on Sawdust: The steam-generating facility was commissioned in 2007 and uses wood byproducts from Andersen’s manufacturing process as an energy source.