The Energy Innovation Business Council (EIBC) in Michigan recently commissioned a study to determine the economic impact of products in the energy efficiency sector, including building envelope products.
The study concluded that the manufacture of such products has a $2 billion impact on Michigan – supporting over 9,000 jobs, and produces more than $71 million in local and state taxes.
According to the EIBC, the study spotlights how the manufacture of energy efficient products contributes to the state.
Details
Monday, May 14, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Free Fact Sheets Help Retailers Educate Consumers, Sell More
The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is calling awareness to its retailer program, which is designed to help window and door retailers educate consumers by offering free fact sheets that explain energy efficiency performance numbers.
The program is growing faster than ever, and NFRC encourages retailers to get involved.
Participation in the retailer program is simple. NFRC ships retailers co-branded tear
sheets–at no cost to the retailers–and re-stocks supplies as needed.
Consumers get the information they need at the point-of-purchase, retailers improve the
likelihood of making sales rather than having their customers go home to think about it, and NFRC gets some recognition.
An information sheet for retailers offers more information on the program, and retailers interested in participating can contact Tom Herron, Senior Manager, Communications and Marketing at therron@nfrc.org.
The program is growing faster than ever, and NFRC encourages retailers to get involved.
Participation in the retailer program is simple. NFRC ships retailers co-branded tear
sheets–at no cost to the retailers–and re-stocks supplies as needed.
Consumers get the information they need at the point-of-purchase, retailers improve the
likelihood of making sales rather than having their customers go home to think about it, and NFRC gets some recognition.
An information sheet for retailers offers more information on the program, and retailers interested in participating can contact Tom Herron, Senior Manager, Communications and Marketing at therron@nfrc.org.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
VA Library Gets Gold for Going Green
The Dolley Madison Community Library in McLean, VA was recently granted Gold Certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) from the U.S. Green Building Council.
One of the features library patrons enjoy the most is the 140-foot long wall of windows that stretch from floor to ceiling.
The library hopes its renovations will add up to a 20 percent reduction in the building's energy use when compared to conventionally-designed facilities of comparable size.
Following the $8 million expansion, the library reopened in July 2011. It is now one of 11 LEED certified projects in Fairfax County, VA.
One of the features library patrons enjoy the most is the 140-foot long wall of windows that stretch from floor to ceiling.
The library hopes its renovations will add up to a 20 percent reduction in the building's energy use when compared to conventionally-designed facilities of comparable size.
Following the $8 million expansion, the library reopened in July 2011. It is now one of 11 LEED certified projects in Fairfax County, VA.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Manufacturers Have Access to 4,800 Energy Efficiency Incentive Programs
Manufacturers looking to implement energy-savings programs can search for rebates, grants, and loans using the recently updated State Incentives and Resource Database.
The database enables customized searching and offers access to approximately 4,800 energy incentive programs, which are being offered by federal and state governments, regional and nonprofit organizations, and utilities.
Available incentives include rebates, grants, loans, and training programs.
The State Incentives and Resource Database is designed to help commercial and industrial managers find the financial and technical incentives, tools, and resources they need to make energy efficiency upgrades.
The database enables customized searching and offers access to approximately 4,800 energy incentive programs, which are being offered by federal and state governments, regional and nonprofit organizations, and utilities.
Available incentives include rebates, grants, loans, and training programs.
The State Incentives and Resource Database is designed to help commercial and industrial managers find the financial and technical incentives, tools, and resources they need to make energy efficiency upgrades.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Market Transformation Group Offers Steps for Improving Rate of Code Compliance
While
complying with building energy codes is widely considered the most
effective way to reduce energy costs, the Institute for Market
Transformation (IMT), is not getting the attention it needs to make as
much difference as it could.
Research conducted by IMT says compliance with building energy codes is only around 50 percent.
The group has also conducted research on how to improve compliance. One thing it suggests is streamlining regulatory processes. IMT says Ventura County, California save more than $1 million over six years after purchasing software to streamline permitting and inspections.
IMT says utilizing third parties is an effective way to improve building energy code compliance. This is a viable alternative for understaffed offices and for those seeking greater objectivity and expertise in the energy-performance testing process.
Finally, IMT says improving building energy code compliance can be achieved by holding design professionals accountable. In Wisconsin, for example, licensed architects and engineers are responsible making sure building plan meets codes and that final construction is code compliant. A study by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), determined that energy code compliance for commercial buildings in Wisconsin reached 95 percent in 2011 as a result.
Details
Research conducted by IMT says compliance with building energy codes is only around 50 percent.
The group has also conducted research on how to improve compliance. One thing it suggests is streamlining regulatory processes. IMT says Ventura County, California save more than $1 million over six years after purchasing software to streamline permitting and inspections.
IMT says utilizing third parties is an effective way to improve building energy code compliance. This is a viable alternative for understaffed offices and for those seeking greater objectivity and expertise in the energy-performance testing process.
Finally, IMT says improving building energy code compliance can be achieved by holding design professionals accountable. In Wisconsin, for example, licensed architects and engineers are responsible making sure building plan meets codes and that final construction is code compliant. A study by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), determined that energy code compliance for commercial buildings in Wisconsin reached 95 percent in 2011 as a result.
Details
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Builders Say Energy Efficient Windows Help Them Differentiate Homes
An online publication known as Professional Builder recently published the results of a survey indicating that builders looking to differentiate their homes are putting performance ahead of price.
The survey, conducted in January 2012, polled 246 readers and revealed that over 70 percent of builders rate energy performance as their first consideration for specifying windows. Only 48 percent said price is most important.
Furthermore, approximately two-thirds of builders said they offer energy-efficient, high-performance windows for their homes as standard.
One way builders can help differentiate their homes is by teaching prospective buyers about the importance of the NFRC certification label.
The label assures them their windows will perform the way they are advertised to perform, and it teaches them how to understand important concepts such as heat flow, which can have a significant impact conserving energy and saving money.
Details
The survey, conducted in January 2012, polled 246 readers and revealed that over 70 percent of builders rate energy performance as their first consideration for specifying windows. Only 48 percent said price is most important.
Furthermore, approximately two-thirds of builders said they offer energy-efficient, high-performance windows for their homes as standard.
One way builders can help differentiate their homes is by teaching prospective buyers about the importance of the NFRC certification label.
The label assures them their windows will perform the way they are advertised to perform, and it teaches them how to understand important concepts such as heat flow, which can have a significant impact conserving energy and saving money.
Details
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
BBB Discusses Comparing Energy Efficient Windows
The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) was recently recognized on the Better Business Bureau's (BBB) Website.
In an article that appeared on April 3, 2012, the BBB highlighted the importance of the NFRC label.
In the article, the BBB advises consumers to balance cost effectiveness with energy efficiency, as more efficient windows, doors and skylights can make a big difference in energy consumption over time.
In an article that appeared on April 3, 2012, the BBB highlighted the importance of the NFRC label.
In the article, the BBB advises consumers to balance cost effectiveness with energy efficiency, as more efficient windows, doors and skylights can make a big difference in energy consumption over time.
Start by looking for products that carry the Energy Performance Ratings label
from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). The label can help
determine how well a product will perform its key functions - helping to keep
your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, keeping out wind, and
resisting condensation. By using the information contained on the label,
builders and consumers can reliably compare one product with another, and make
informed decisions.
As with any home improvement project, it’s important to make sure you are dealing with a reputable contractor and reputable materials. BBB encourages consumers to consult with their home contractor to see that all energy performance materials carry this label.
If you are looking for a well insulated room, check the window’s U-Factor. During the cold winter months, you’ll want to make sure your windows are trapping heat. U-Factor ratings generally fall between 0.20 and 1.20. The lower the U-value, the greater a window's resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating value.
Is your room sunny and bright? The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) rates how much solar radiation is admitted through the window. SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The lower a window's solar heat gain coefficient, the less solar heat it transmits in the house.
Are you looking for a well lit room or one that’s on the dimmer side? Visible Transmittance is an optical property that indicates the amount of visible light transmitted through the window. VT is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The higher the VT, the more light is transmitted.
Make sure your window doesn’t give off any unwanted breeziness. Heat loss and gain occur by Air Leakage through cracks in the window assembly. The lower the AL, the less air will pass through cracks in the window assembly.
Check to see how well your window will resist the formation of condensation. The higher the Condensation Resistance (CR) rating, the better that product is at resisting condensation formation. While this rating cannot predict condensation, it can provide a credible method of comparing the potential of various products for condensation formation. CR is expressed as a number between 1 and 100.
For more home improvement tips you can trust, visit www.bbb.org and for more information on the Energy Performance Ratings label, visit www.nfrc.orgwww.nfrc.org.
As with any home improvement project, it’s important to make sure you are dealing with a reputable contractor and reputable materials. BBB encourages consumers to consult with their home contractor to see that all energy performance materials carry this label.
If you are looking for a well insulated room, check the window’s U-Factor. During the cold winter months, you’ll want to make sure your windows are trapping heat. U-Factor ratings generally fall between 0.20 and 1.20. The lower the U-value, the greater a window's resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating value.
Is your room sunny and bright? The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) rates how much solar radiation is admitted through the window. SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The lower a window's solar heat gain coefficient, the less solar heat it transmits in the house.
Are you looking for a well lit room or one that’s on the dimmer side? Visible Transmittance is an optical property that indicates the amount of visible light transmitted through the window. VT is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The higher the VT, the more light is transmitted.
Make sure your window doesn’t give off any unwanted breeziness. Heat loss and gain occur by Air Leakage through cracks in the window assembly. The lower the AL, the less air will pass through cracks in the window assembly.
Check to see how well your window will resist the formation of condensation. The higher the Condensation Resistance (CR) rating, the better that product is at resisting condensation formation. While this rating cannot predict condensation, it can provide a credible method of comparing the potential of various products for condensation formation. CR is expressed as a number between 1 and 100.
For more home improvement tips you can trust, visit www.bbb.org and for more information on the Energy Performance Ratings label, visit www.nfrc.orgwww.nfrc.org.
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