The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA) is reporting that six states will take part in the Policy Academy on State Building Efficiency Retrofit Programs. The academy’s goal is to help improve energy efficiency in existing buildings.
The six states include Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Utah and Wisconsin.
Building retrofit programs may include measures such as air sealing, insulation, and window replacement.
Details
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
NFRC Label Makes News in Philadelphia
During his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama explained that the recent success of Northeast Building Products shows that the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act has spurred job growth. Operating at one point with 185 employees, growing demand for energy-efficient windows has led the company to add 100 jobs and two additional shifts.
A video clip of the story as it appeared on the news shows the NFRC label on the company's windows.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
House Approves Bill to Boost Retrofits
Under a bill recently approved by The House, federal loan guarantees will apply to energy efficiency projects funded through Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) bonds.
The PACE bonds provision is part of the Jobs for Main Street Act, which has a budget of $75 billion. Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y) advocated the bill. The bill enables property owners to finance energy efficiency retrofits through a loan, which is voluntarily attached to the borrower's property tax bill.
Such long-term loans are eligible for transfer along with the sale of the property in order to accelerate investment in retrofits. To date, 15 states have enacted bills allowing this kind of municipal financing. Several additional states are considering similar bills.
The Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), an advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., stands behind the House's action and said it would work closely with Israel and other congressional members to promote the program.
Details
The PACE bonds provision is part of the Jobs for Main Street Act, which has a budget of $75 billion. Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y) advocated the bill. The bill enables property owners to finance energy efficiency retrofits through a loan, which is voluntarily attached to the borrower's property tax bill.
Such long-term loans are eligible for transfer along with the sale of the property in order to accelerate investment in retrofits. To date, 15 states have enacted bills allowing this kind of municipal financing. Several additional states are considering similar bills.
The Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), an advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., stands behind the House's action and said it would work closely with Israel and other congressional members to promote the program.
Details
CEO's Message Regarding Shared Vision on Attachments Industry
In January 2010, the NFRC Executive Committee met in Chicago to review the Business Plan for the Fenestration Attachments Program and to help refine a “Shared Vision” for the attachments industry. This vision will be reviewed by the Board of Directors later this month and an approved vision will be presented to the attendees at the Spring Membership meeting in New Orleans. The draft vision includes the following:
• The rating should be developed sequentially (simplest to most complex).
• The program should provide web-based information on product ratings/performance.
• The label should have a permanent mark; and be traceable (back to APD via CPD #).
• The rating should provide for fair, uniform comparisons within attachment product lines.
• This simple, comparative rating being developed shall not be used for comparison with window ratings.
• The attachment label shall include language that states “For comparable ratings with similar attachment products only.” The label should describe the attachment through words and/or pictures.
• The attachments ratings shall use the same base case windows for all attachment products.
• There shall be 6 base case windows used for determining the ratings.
• The program shall include ratings with and without the base windows.
• One base case window shall be used for validation testing.
• The consumer friendly label shall include ratings (with and without) 2 base case windows (good performer/ poor performer).
• The attachments ratings shall be based upon (and include) U-factor, SHGC and VT (if applicable).
This information will be available on a publicly accessible database on the NFRC website. Information on the simple, consumer-friendly attachment label, however, may be different based upon the focus group and marketing studies.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Fall/Winter 2009 Window & Door Industry Webinar Now Available
Jordan, Knauff & Company has made available a free download, including slides and audio, of its recently recorded Fall/Winter 2009 Window & Door Industry Update Webinar.
The topics covered in the presentation included an overview of the window and door industry and an analysis of transactions along with expansions and the slowing rate of plant closings and bankruptcies. Also included was a discussion of current industry trends, the state of the residential and commercial real estate markets and a review of the capital markets and private equity investing as they pertain to the window and door industry. The final section of the presentation covered current trends regarding competition from Chinese companies, including the most recent import statistics and some of the events taking place in China that will affect the U.S. domestic market.
A complimentary copy of the presentation is available, along with all of Jordan Knauff’s research on the door and window industry.
Take me to the Webinar.
The topics covered in the presentation included an overview of the window and door industry and an analysis of transactions along with expansions and the slowing rate of plant closings and bankruptcies. Also included was a discussion of current industry trends, the state of the residential and commercial real estate markets and a review of the capital markets and private equity investing as they pertain to the window and door industry. The final section of the presentation covered current trends regarding competition from Chinese companies, including the most recent import statistics and some of the events taking place in China that will affect the U.S. domestic market.
A complimentary copy of the presentation is available, along with all of Jordan Knauff’s research on the door and window industry.
Take me to the Webinar.
Updates from BCAP
Below are some of the updates being reported by the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP).
Connecticut
On October 15, the Connecticut Department of Public Safety’s State Codes and Standards Committee (SCSC) announced that it intended to review and consider proposals amending the 2009 IECC for inclusion in the 2010 Amendments to the 2005 State Building Code (which currently uses the 2006 IECC) to comply with Public Act 09-192. The SCSC met initially on December 9 and accepted proposals through December 31. The SCSC met again on January 27 to receive and review the proposed changes to the 2009 IECC.
Georgia
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) State Codes Advisory Committee (SCAC) 2009 IECC Task Force has posted minutes from its January 14 meeting. The fourth meeting of the Task Force is scheduled for Wednesday, February 17 in Atlanta. The Task Force is tentatively expected to review all code amendments submitted to date. Information on previous meetings can be found at the Task Force homepage.
New York
After giving initial approval to a proposed state energy code update on December 16, the New York State Uniform Fire and Building Code Council has scheduled a series of public hearings on the approved changes in early March. The proposed 2010 Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State would be based on the 2009 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2007 (the current ECCCNYS is based on the 2004 IECC supplement and ASHRAE 90.1-2004). The New York Department of State (NYS-DOS) hopes to implement the new energy code by the end of this year.
Pennsylvania
The 2009 Uniform Construction Code (UCC) – which incorporates the 2009 IECC with alternative compliance paths through the 2009 IRC (Chapter 11) and the 2009 Pennsylvania Alternative Residential Energy Provisions (PA-Alt) – was approved in December and became effective on January 1, 2010. This month, the Pennsylvania Builders Association filed for a preliminary injunction against the 2009 UCC. A hearing date has been scheduled for Monday, March 1 in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.
Details
Connecticut
On October 15, the Connecticut Department of Public Safety’s State Codes and Standards Committee (SCSC) announced that it intended to review and consider proposals amending the 2009 IECC for inclusion in the 2010 Amendments to the 2005 State Building Code (which currently uses the 2006 IECC) to comply with Public Act 09-192. The SCSC met initially on December 9 and accepted proposals through December 31. The SCSC met again on January 27 to receive and review the proposed changes to the 2009 IECC.
Georgia
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) State Codes Advisory Committee (SCAC) 2009 IECC Task Force has posted minutes from its January 14 meeting. The fourth meeting of the Task Force is scheduled for Wednesday, February 17 in Atlanta. The Task Force is tentatively expected to review all code amendments submitted to date. Information on previous meetings can be found at the Task Force homepage.
New York
After giving initial approval to a proposed state energy code update on December 16, the New York State Uniform Fire and Building Code Council has scheduled a series of public hearings on the approved changes in early March. The proposed 2010 Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State would be based on the 2009 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2007 (the current ECCCNYS is based on the 2004 IECC supplement and ASHRAE 90.1-2004). The New York Department of State (NYS-DOS) hopes to implement the new energy code by the end of this year.
Pennsylvania
The 2009 Uniform Construction Code (UCC) – which incorporates the 2009 IECC with alternative compliance paths through the 2009 IRC (Chapter 11) and the 2009 Pennsylvania Alternative Residential Energy Provisions (PA-Alt) – was approved in December and became effective on January 1, 2010. This month, the Pennsylvania Builders Association filed for a preliminary injunction against the 2009 UCC. A hearing date has been scheduled for Monday, March 1 in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.
Details
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
BCAP's "OCEAN" Simplifies Interaction on Building Codes
The Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) is promoting a resource known as the Online Code Environment and Advocacy Network (OCEAN). Creators of this network believe it will improve energy efficiency in buildings across the United States.
OCEAN facilitates sharing best practices and educational resources related to building energy code adoption, implementation, compliance, and enforcement. OCEAN also facilitates discussion regarding code issues and provides information regarding existing programs aimed at serving as models for future projects.
Prior to the implementation of OCEAN, no single resource provided this kind of information to the energy code community. OCEAN was essentially built over time by its users, who provided valuable and practical information based on their experience in the industry.
Details
OCEAN facilitates sharing best practices and educational resources related to building energy code adoption, implementation, compliance, and enforcement. OCEAN also facilitates discussion regarding code issues and provides information regarding existing programs aimed at serving as models for future projects.
Prior to the implementation of OCEAN, no single resource provided this kind of information to the energy code community. OCEAN was essentially built over time by its users, who provided valuable and practical information based on their experience in the industry.
Details
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