W6/T6 Completion Date Extended to Fall 2012

A motion proposing that the completion date for the W6/T6 Validation Research Project be extended until the fall 2012 membership meeting passed, 28-0.

While the research is complete, the project report is still being finalized.

Following the 2012 membership meeting, the contractor will transfer to NFRC all data, materials, and works related to the project.

"Ambassadors” Help Newcomers Navigate First Meeting

First-time meeting attendees met their NFRC ambassadors this morning.

The new program, implemented by NFRC’s Membership Manager, Anita Marsh, was implemented to reduce the learning curve for new meeting attendees.

Marsh says her research indicates newcomers typically attend three meetings before they become acclimated. The program is designed to create a cohort group that moves through meetings together, enabling them to enjoy a sense of camaraderie and to get them involved in the proceedings sooner rather than later.

According to Marsh, one of the most valuable aspects of the ambassador program is that it gives newcomers a personal resource they can turn to so they can get answers to their questions quickly and easily.

In Marsh's view, creating an atmosphere of success for first-time attendees is essential to getting talented new people involved and keeping them involved.

Final Countdown: Spring Committee Week Meeting Starts Tomorrow

Greetings from Austin, the capitol of Texas.

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) will open its spring committee week meeting tomorrow, Monday, March 26 at 8:00 a.m. at the Omni Hotel.

The event begins with opening remarks by NFRC Chair, Steve Strawn. Afterwards, the Research & Technology Committee block gets underway with three subcommittees convening.

These include the Optical Properties Subcommittee, the Research Subcommittee, and the Thermophysical Properties Subcommittee. 

During the afternoon session, the Research & Technology Committee block will continue until the Technical Committee block beings at 2:30 p.m. 

Subcommittees convening under the Technical Committee block include the U-factor Subcommittee, the Solar Heat Gain Subcommittee, and the Annual Energy Performance Committee.

Following the day's meetings, attendees are welcome to attend a networking reception.

Be sure to check back throughout the meeting. NFRC News Now will deliver insight on all the proceedings as they unfold.

As always, we welcome your thoughts on all things NFRC. Post your comments here and start your own conversation.

NFRC Meeting in Austin Next Week, Still Time to Register

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) will hold its Committee Week Meeting in Austin, Texas March 26-28 at the Omni Austin Hotel - Downtown.

Registration is required and is still available. Guests and single day attendance is also available. Contact Cheryl Gendron, NFRC's meeting manager, for further information. 

Full Meeting Details

CEC Releases Draft Language of Building Energy Code Update for Public Comment

According to the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP), the California Energy Commission (CEC) has prepared draft language for its update to the state building energy code.

The draft represents a 30 percent energy savings over the current 2008 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (BEES).

On February 24, the draft was made available for a 45-day public comment period. Public hearings in Sacramento are slated for March 12, 13, and 15 as needed. The full CEC adoption hearing is scheduled for April 11.

The targeted date for final adoption is October 2012 with the standards becoming effective on January 1, 2014.

Details

IVP Documents Available, NFRC Seeks Input from Participants

In order to meet the requirements as a recognized EPA Certification Body (CB), the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is introducing the Independent Verification Program (IVP) as an enhancement to the NFRC 700 Product Certification Program (PCP).

The IVP will verify ENERGY STAR® qualified and NFRC rated fenestration products sold in the market are consistent with the products listed in the NFRC Certified Products Directory (CPD) with procedures that complement the inspection and validation testing requirements of the NFRC PCP. All NFRC participants are required to participate in the IVP, whether or not the participant is an ENERGY STAR partner.

NFRC has been working for close to 2 years to create the NFRC 713 program document that will administer the IVP. NFRC has also been taking many steps to ensure the IVP is an enhancement to the NFRC PCP. Since late 2011the IVP pilot program has been underway allowing NFRC to evaluate the IVP processes. In order to provide the funding for the IVP, the NFRC Board of Directors approved major changes to NFRC program fees and membership dues schedule. The 2012 fee schedule uses a flat dues structure for membership and a sliding scale for program participation fees creating a more fair and equitable system for NFRC participants.

Once approved by the NFRC Board of Directors, the NFRC 713 IVP program document is scheduled for implementation in January 2013. NFRC anticipates that the enhancements to the IVP will allow NFRC to remove the requirement to validate products lines when recertified. This will decrease costs for program participants by reducing recertification expenses.

NFRC participants are encouraged to download the following documents for review from the IVP web page:

       - IVP Program Document NFRC 713 (DRAFT)
       - IVP Compliance Flowchart
       - IVP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The NFRC is requesting participants to provide comments on the program documents by forwarding all correspondence to NFRC staff at ivp@nfrc.org. NFRC will present a summary of the comments and answer questions about the IVP at an open forum during the March committee week meeting. The forum is scheduled for Wednesday morning prior to the NFRC Board of Directors meeting.

Tax Credit for Homeowners May Help Offset Cost of Windows

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers a tax credit for certain qualified home energy improvements implemented during 2011.

One of these tax credits is known as The Non-business Energy Property Credit. Qualifying improvements include energy-efficient exterior windows and doors. Installation costs do not qualify.  

The 2011 credit for homeowners is 10 percent of the cost of qualified energy-efficient improvements, up to $500.

Qualifying improvements must have been placed into service in the taxpayer’s principal residence located in the United States before Jan. 1, 2012.

Those applying for this credit should have the manufacturer’s tax credit certification statement. This may be available on the manufacturer’s website, or it may have been included in the product packaging.

If you’re eligible, you can claim this credit on Form 5695, Residential Energy Credits when you file your 2011 federal income tax return. This form is available at www.irs.gov.

Please note that this is a tax credit, not a deduction, so it will generally reduce the amount of tax owed dollar for dollar.

Details