NFRC Fall Membership Meeting Kicks off with New Member Orientation

NFRC's CEO, Jim Benney, addresses new members

The National Fenestration Rating Council’s (NFRC) Fall Membership Meeting got underway at 7:00 a.m. today with a new member orientation.

The orientation started with NFRC’s CEO, Jim Benney, addressing the 34 new members saying, “NFRC is important because energy is important.” Benney also explained to the group that there are many complex issues involved with energy, and as NFRC members, they can help make a difference in the world.

NFRC’s Director of Existing Programs, Scott Hanlon, followed Benney’s opening address by explaining NFRC’s committee structure. Hanlon described how the majority of work done by NFRC members takes place in its Committee Structure through Task Groups, Subcommittees, and Committees. Hanlon emphasized that NFRC develops its standards and program documents in accordance with consensus procedures and encouraged all of the new members to get involved and stay active.
 
NFRC’s Membership Manager, Anita Marsh, echoed Hanlon’s comments, pointing out that one of the most valuable aspects of NFRC membership is that it provides a voice and a vote. Marsh said other membership benefits include access to inside information, networking opportunities, and the chance to build consumer trust in the marketplace.

“Our members lead change, and making the most of your membership helps NFRC serve the public good,” Marsh concluded. “The transformation of our industry starts with you.”

NFRC Meeting Attendees Tour LBL, Broaden Knowledge of Fenestration Testing Procedures

Jonathan Slack (left), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL) scientist in the Building Technologies Department, Environmental Technologies Division and National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) meeting attendee, Gregg Vincent, Natural Light Energy Systems, discussed how LBL is working to help reduce the amount of energy lost through windows during a tour of the LBL facility on Sunday afternoon.

The tour, held one day prior to NFRC's Fall Membership Meeting in San Francisco, hosted 32 meeting attenees in all.

According to its Website, LBL is a member of the national laboratory system supported by the U.S. Department of Energy through its Office of Science. It is managed by the University of California (UC) and is charged with conducting unclassified research across a wide range of scientific disciplines, including the energy efficiency of windows.

Located on a 200-acre site in the hills above the UC Berkeley campus, Sunday’s tour offered visitors some unique insight regarding the lab’s work along with some spectacular views of the sunset over the San Francisco Bay.

One of the core messages Slack delivered during the tour, is that energy losses through windows in the U.S. exceed 3.9 quadrillion BTU’s, which costs about $32 billion annually. Slack said one thing LBL is doing to help improve this situation is testing a prototype smart window, which uses LBL’s Transition Metal Switchable Mirrors (TMSM). Such technology may be able to save 25 percent or more of this energy.

Slack added that when used as an active window coating, TMSMs can offer both improved building energy performance and a new method for daylighting control. Furthermore, dynamically controlled windows respond to changes in lighting and weather conditions in real time, controlled by either occupants or sensors monitoring ambient conditions. The result is optimal energy performance, daylighting levels, and occupant comfort.

Many of those who attended the LBL tour said Slack's presentation, along with presentations provided by several other LBL staff members, broadened their knowledge of fenestration testing procedures and added that they would like to see NFRC offer similar educational opportunities in conjunction with future meetings.

Live coverage of NFRC's Fall Membership Meeting will begin tomorrow morning. Be sure to check back frequently for updates.

Follow NFRC's Fall Membership Meeting Here

If you can’t attend The National Fenestration Rating Council’s (NFRC) Fall Membership Meeting next week, there’s no need to despair -- we’ll bring the meeting to you.

The membership meeting will take place November 8 - 11, 2010 at the Hilton San Francisco Financial District Hotel, and you can follow the proceedings as they happen -- right here on NFRC News Now.

This online news service will be updated continually to deliver the latest breaking news and information on the changes and complexities that define the fenestration industry and may influence the way you conduct business.

Please remember – NFRC News Now is not just operational during NFRC meetings. It’s always being updated and always available.

If you have any questions about NFRC News Now, please contact NFRC’s Communications & Marketing Manager, Tom Herron.

NFRC Announces Results of Board of Directors Election

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is pleased to announce the election of its new Board of Directors for the 2011 term. The following members have been elected to a three-year term: 

• Steve Farrar, Guardian Industries, Corp. Fenestration Industry Category (Specified). This seat is specifically for a primary glass manufacturer
• Joe Hayden, Pella Corp. Fenestration Industry Category (Unspecified)
• Christian Kohler, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. General Interest Category (Specified). This seat is specifically for a not-for-profit institution of research or higher education
• Ross McCluney, SunPine. General Interest Category (Unspecified)

“I’m confident the collective insight these Directors provide will spur many creative, new initiatives that will continue to advance our organization,” said NFRC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jim Benney. “All of us at NFRC and those we serve will benefit from their expertise.”

NFRC Stakeholder Group Extends Deadline for Entries for 2010 Beyond Green™ Awards Program.

Bud DeFlaviis, Executive Director, of the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) has extended the deadline for entries for SBIC’s 2010 Beyond Green™ Awards Program. The new deadline for submissions is Friday, November 19th at 5:00 p.m. (ET). The Beyond Green™ High-Performance Building Awards program is open to all and offers two entry categories, High-Performance Buildings and High-Performance Initiatives.

Both categories will be evaluated on the successful application of the whole building approach and on energy and environmental considerations. Winners will be invited to speak at a Capitol Hill briefing as well as a special session hosted by Catholic University's School of Architecture and Planning. Winning entries will be posted on the Whole Building Design Guide and on SBIC's web site.

Serving as the jury for the competition includes: Stephen T. Ayers, AIA, LEED AP , Nancy Clanton, PE, IALD, FIES, LC LEED AP, Deane M. Evans, FAIA, and Earle Kennett. This year's jury will be chaired by Gregg Ander, FAIA.

To learn more about the 2010 Beyond Green™ High-Performance Building Awards, please download the Call for Entries at: www.sbicouncil.org/2010-awards.

If you have any questions about the program, please contact Bud DeFlaviis by phone at (202) 628-7400, extension 201 or by email at bdeflaviis@sbicouncil.org.

NFRC Approved as EPA-recognized Certification Body for ENERGY STAR Program

(Greenbelt, MD. October 27, 2010). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) as an EPA-recognized Certification Body for the ENERGY STAR® Program.

NFRC, provider of the only independent rating and labeling system for the energy performance of windows, doors, and skylights, is now one of only six EPA-recognized Certification Bodies listed on the EPA Website.

Effective January 1, 2011, ENERGY STAR will require any product seeking program participation to have its energy performance validated by a third-party certification body prior to product labeling. These products must also undergo post-market verification testing to validate continuing energy performance.

NFRC’s already rigorous certification program served as a model for some of EPA’s efforts to develop its new certification body requirements.
 
“NFRC is well positioned to carry on operations under the new ENERGY STAR requirements, enabling its 800-plus participating window, door, and skylight manufacturers to seamlessly continue to qualify for the ENERGY STAR program,” said NFRC’s CEO, Jim Benney.

ENERGY STAR, established in 1992 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants through more efficient energy use, is intended to help consumers identify and purchase energy-efficient products. Products meeting published energy efficiency levels qualify for the distinctive

ENERGY STAR product logo. According to the EPA, ENERGY STAR products saved U.S. consumers $17 billion in energy costs in 2009.

Recognized certification bodies are required to be accredited to ISO/IEC Guide 65-General Requirements for Bodies Operating Product Certification Systems.

Please contact NFRC's Communications & Marketing Manager, Tom Herron, with any questions.

Collaborative Publication Created by DOE and ICC Seeks to Promote Building Energy Code Compliance

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is reporting on its Website that a collaborative publication created by its Building Energy Codes Program (BECP) and the International Code Council (ICC) is being distributed through ICC chapters this month to support greater compliance with building energy codes.

The publication is a compilation of each organization’s most beneficial resources for building code enforcement officials. It includes an assortment of reference guides, case studies, and sample inspection checklists.

Additionally, the publication provides readers with a variety of online resources and excerpts from ICC's commentaries, workbooks, and code companion materials.

Details