Why Window Dressers
What are Window Dressers?
Window Dressers are removable insulating window inserts with frames custom measured to fit within the trim of your windows.
After you submit an order online, you will be assigned to a community build in your area and local volunteers will come to your house and measure each window you want an insert for. Measurements are uploaded to the Window Dressers software, and all the frames are cut with CNC machines. The staff at Window Dressers work tirelessly to support the efforts of the community builds in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. They provide supplies, jigs for assembly, and materials for the local coordinators. The frames are assembled and wrapped on both sides with recyclable polyolefin plastic during the community builds. They are fitted snug in the window trim with expandable foam strips. If your inserts get damaged, you can bring them back to the next community build to be rewrapped. Many customers prefer these inserts to the 3M plastic because they don’t require adhesives that peel off your trim paint.
“All of the inserts produced since Window Dressers started in 2010 have saved an estimated 500,000 gallons of heating oil.”
Volunteers make it all possible…
This keeps the cost of inserts low.
And, it encourages neighbors to help neighbors.
Each insert saves homeowners an average of $27/heating season, with an average payback period of 2 years.
〰️
Each insert saves homeowners an average of $27/heating season, with an average payback period of 2 years. 〰️
Why Do We Support Window Dressers?
We strive to provide a safe and collaborative environment to learn carpentry skills and power tool use.
We connect participants with tradespeople and mentors to develop skills, confidence and community.
Window Dressers provides our community with a critical weatherization strategy to significantly lower energy costs for our friends and neighbors. The assembly of these inserts is a massive volunteer effort that encourages community connections.
Volunteers will use power tools, hand tools, and clever jigs to assemble the frames. The Community Builds help develop skills and resiliency in our area.
Four years ago, We Built This was approached by the former Norway Community Build Coordinator for Window Dressers. She was looking for her successor, and asked us to follow along with her in the process as she set up the 2018 build. We practiced measuring windows with the laser measuring tool provided to all measuring volunteers. We helped set up the jigs and stations for the build. We spent a weekend volunteering with assembly, wrapping frames, heat sealing the plastic, and finishing the inserts with gasketing foam. We were fed delicious foods provided by volunteers and the rockstar Food Coordinator (who still volunteers for the Norway Build to this day). We Built This has run the local Community Build for the past three years. Now it’s our turn to pass on the torch.
Why is We Built This passing the torch?
There are exciting things in the works for the development of We Built This! In order to provide engaging content, cultivate fruitful relationships with industry leaders and raise funds to keep our workshops affordable to all, it is time to focus our efforts.
We will continue to support the efforts of Window Dressers in our community. However, we are stepping down as the Local Coordinator of the Norway Community Build after this season. Our final build as Coordinator starts November 4th, 2023 and runs through November 6th, 2023. If you are curious about this process and want to see it continue in this community, reach out! Comment below! Sign up to volunteer!
