The WindowDressers, Inc.

Mission:

WindowDressers brings community volunteers of all economic and social situations together to improve the warmth and comfort of interior spaces, lower heating costs, and reduce pollution associated with burning fossil fuels, by producing low-cost insulating window inserts that function as custom, interior-mounted storm windows.

Vision: Every community has access to affordably insulated windows.

Our Core Values Are: Warming Homes - increasing home comfort for all through affordable and accessible window weatherization. Saving Energy - increasing energy efficiency while reducing heating costs and pollution associated with burning fossil fuels. Building Community - a volunteer-driven approach to building resilience within communities where neighbors know and support their neighbors.

History: In October 2010, the Universalist Church of Rockland, ME conducted an extensive energy audit that identified leaky aluminum-clad windows in its sanctuary as a major cause of heat loss. In response, Richard Cadwgan, a friend of the Church, attended a workshop on the construction of insulating window inserts according to a design originated by Topher Belnap. Cadwgan built and donated twenty-six new inserts to the church shortly before Christmas 2010. The effect was a warmer church, lower heating bills, and reduced CO2 emissions. The new inserts attracted the attention of parishioners who inquired whether they might work in their houses. In the following months, Cadwgan teamed up with former congregation president Frank Mundo to take orders for a total of 185 inserts, which they built in their basement workshops. The following winter, the church offered the duo a short-term $2,000 inventory loan to be repaid from insert sales. Cadwgan and Mundo produced 1,231 inserts that season, repaid the loan, and developed the model and goals that continue to guide WindowDressers. Equally important, they developed the concept of Community Builds. The idea originated on Islesboro, where Frank Mundo spearheaded the concept and oversaw the coordination required for measuring local homes and moving a truckload of frames and finishing supplies via ferry to the island. Enthusiastic island volunteers completed 275 inserts for 25 houses in a five-day workshop held at their Community Center – a rousing success that they duplicated in the following year and which the founders exported to other towns on the mainland. Over the years, WindowDressers has continued its strong growth and development as a community-based nonprofit organization that supports dozens of Community Builds across Northern New England.

What We Do:

During the 2024-2025 season, WindowDressers worked with over 4,000 volunteers to build 10,550 inserts at 57 Community Builds serving 1,727 households, businesses and organizations across our service area. 4,067 inserts or 39% of all inserts produced were provided to low 578 income households. WindowDressers supports the basic need of warm housing for people, business and organizations in our service area of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. We bring volunteers together to improve the warmth and comfort of interior spaces, lower heating costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by producing low-cost insulating window inserts that function as interior-mounted storm windows. Our local, cooperative Community Build model - like an old-fashioned barn raising but for window weatherization - provides affordable window weatherization and community-building opportunities to people of all income levels, ages, abilities, and social situations. More than 35% of the inserts we produce each season are given free of charge to low-income households. About 30% of an average home’s heat loss occurs through windows and doors. In homes with older windows, the situation can be even worse, and Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont have some of the oldest housing stock in the nation. Replacing windows is very expensive and continues to be out of reach for many households, especially those who are low-income, on a fixed income, or renters. Our inserts are constructed of custom-made pine frames wrapped in two layers of tightly-sealed, clear plastic film and finished with a compressible foam gasket. The foam allows enough give for the inserts to be easily slid into place in the fall and removed in the spring while holding firmly enough to provide a tight, friction-based seal that stops drafts and adds two more insulating air spaces between the interior space and the window. Our small staff creates exponential value by providing training, supplies, and support to local teams of community volunteers. Each local team of volunteers manages its regional program. WindowDressers staff trains this team in how to plan and conduct their Build, conduct outreach in their local community, recruit and train local volunteers for the Build, communicate insert benefits, conduct measuring of residents’ windows, and assemble inserts to completion. WindowDressers supplies custom software to the team and teaches them how to utilize the computerized system to input orders, assess program progress, and manage their team. We supply them with pine frame kits that are cut to the exact measurements of each window and pre-drilled, ready for assembly. We also supply all of the gear, jigs, and consumable supplies needed to complete the inserts. We estimate that each average-sized insert of 30"x52" will save about 8.5 gallons of heating fuel each year. Savings will depend on the type of fuel used, the type of windows in place, and the quality of existing insulation and air sealing in the home. With proper care, our inserts will last for up to 10 years. Once the materials start to degrade or show wear or if the plastic becomes damaged, inserts can be repaired for a small fee of $15.