How many people does it take to change a window? At Boxerwood that answer would be at least five. This month we completed a long-awaited project. We replaced the Lodge’s original windows with ones much more energy efficient. These are magic windows. Look through them and you can see even more clearly the Earth and our commitment to it. You can also see the kindness and goodwill of the volunteers who made it happen, and the generosity of donors. As with most things at Boxerwood, there’s more to these windows than meets the eye.
The replaced windows date back more than 70 years. The Boxerwood Lodge was built in 1951; much of the structure is original from that time (and in fact the Lodge is on the National Register of Historic Places, as an example of Frank Lloyd Wright inspired mid century modern architecture). But the building is showing its age, and in 2019 we began a series of upgrades. First we replaced the roof and installed a new electric heating/cooling system, in anticipation of our transition to solar power. We then installed a wood burning stove for carbon emission-neutral supplemental heating.
The last phase of the project was installing new energy-efficient windows in all of the offices. The old windows were single pane with aluminum frames, and they were very leaky; Energy Star estimates that upgrading to double pane windows can reduce energy use by about 20-30%. We installed the new windows last spring, but had a delay with the final framing. Just in time for this new season we added the finishing touches, with interior trim, caulking, and painting. It’s done!
Coordinating the project was Boxerwood Garden and Facility Manager Ben Eland (also a finish carpenter). According to Ben, though, the entire project – including removal of old windows, re-installation, exterior and interior trim – was completed by the Boxerwood Warriors, a group of volunteers with construction experience. The Boxerwood warriors include Jim Kvach, Bill Oliver, Fritz Schindler, John Burke, Dave Bryer, with Paul Leonhard, Joe Dinardo, and Peter Gruner helping in the early stages. This important sustainability upgrade would not have been feasible without them, and we are grateful.
Looking through our magic windows, you see way more than Boxerwood trees. You can see dedication, commitment, and care. You can also see the generosity of donors whose gifts to the general fund helped purchase supplies.
Apparently it takes a village to frame a window. We are fortunate indeed.
