NEWS — Industry
Category [ all | aama | green | industry | legislative updates | materials | products | southeast region | website quick tips | western region ]May 16, 2012
NFRC Independent Verification Program Nears Launch
True to the EPA initiative to employ market-based testing to verify continued compliance of ENERGY STAR®-rated products, the ENERGY STAR Windows, Doors and Skylights program has established new requirements for the sampling and verification testing of products as they are sold in the marketplace.May 16, 2012
California Poised to Issue 2013 Title 24 Building Efficiency Standards
The California Energy Commission is in the final stages of adopting changes to the 2008 Building Energy Efficiency Standards contained in the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 24, Part 6 (also known as the California Energy Code). The revised standards were approved May 9, 2012 and are scheduled to take effect in January 2014.May 7, 2012
AAMA and WDMA Release Fenestration Market Studies that Predict Industry Trends
AAMA and WDMA have jointly released the updated 2011/2012 Study of the U.S. Market for Windows, Doors and Skylights. This report delivers accurate and timely information on window, door, skylight and curtain wall market trends and product relationships for both residential and commercial construction. Historic data for 2006 through 2011 and forecast data for 2012 through 2015 are also included in the report. Forecasts are based on projections of construction activity as of March 2011.March 30, 2012
Second Public Review of Addendum to ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1-2011 Open until April 22
Addendum aa to ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1-2011, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is open for public comment until April 22, 2012.March 30, 2012
Underwriters Laboratories Releases New Door Leaf Sustainability Document
Underwriters Laboratories recently released the document, UL 102, Standard for Sustainability for Door Leafs, which contains requirements to be used as a foundation for evaluating door leafs for sustainability.March 30, 2012
Vinyl Well-Positioned to Meet Tightening Thermal Criteria
Various codes and standards continue to evolve toward more stringent performance requirements, especially with regard to energy efficiency of the building envelope in general and fenestration products. In the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), there are several significant changes between the 2009 and 2012 editions that relate to fenestration products.March 29, 2012
The High Performance Windows Volume Purchase Program Announces Phase II Changes
The High Performance WVP Program Team is announcing big changes to the market transformation effort, following a two hour stakeholder strategy session on February 2. The strategy session, held via webinar and hosted by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, welcomed nearly 50 participants from window manufacturers, non-profit organizations, Federal agencies and members of the WVP team itself.March 20, 2012
Deadline Extended: Action Needed to Stop Adoption of LEED 2012
USGBC is striking a major blow against all vinyl building products used in commercial buildings by attaching an avoidance credit to its use within the revised draft of LEED® 2012. Submit comments by March 27 (read article for full details on submitting your comments) and copy your Congress representatives. Locate your representatives through our search widget.March 12, 2012
ENERGY STAR Windows, Doors and Skylights Releases EPA Comment Response Summary
The EPA announced the release of responses to comments for the ENERGY STAR® Windows, Doors and Skylights Version 6.0 Product Specification Framework Document.February 29, 2012
AEC Helps Impose Antidumping Duties, Participates in Hearings for 2012 Int'l Green Construction Code
The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) continues to play an active role in advocating for aluminum in all aspects of the building and construction industry. Working together with partners at AAMA and other groups, AEC promotes the positive role of aluminum fenestration products in meeting advanced requirements for sustainability, energy performance, structural performance and durability.February 29, 2012
IGMA Holds 2012 Annual Conference; Reviews Important Industry Documents
At the Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance's (IGMA) 2012 Annual Conference, held January 31-Feburary 4 in Tempe, AZ, many of IGMA's task groups and committees held meetings. These groups met to discuss industry issues and document updates.February 29, 2012
HUD PowerSaver Program Backs Loans for Homeowners to Upgrade Windows, Skylights and Doors
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced on December 23, 2011, that mortgage finance company Fannie Mae will begin purchasing Federal Housing Administration (FHA) PowerSaver loans from Fannie Mae approved lenders.January 31, 2012
In the context of green construction, building owners, designers and standards developers look increasingly to daylighting to provide natural interior illumination while saving money on energy costs and reducing a building's impact on the environment.
Objectifying the Subjective: In Pursuit of Metrics for Daylighting
Lisa Heschong (Heschong Mahone Group) presented a roadmap for the development of daylighting performance metrics to the NRFC in November 2010. The following is a summary of her presentation and ensuing discussion.In the context of green construction, building owners, designers and standards developers look increasingly to daylighting to provide natural interior illumination while saving money on energy costs and reducing a building's impact on the environment.
January 27, 2012
Fenestration Codes and Trends with AAMA Board Member, Mike Turner, YKK AP America
Commercial Conversation is a series of podcasts from the editors of Commercial Building Products magazine. A recent podcast was held with AAMA Board Member Mike Turner, Vice President of Marketing at YKK AP America, Austell, GA. Turner is also the Task Group Chairman for BIM Initiatives at AAMA, a member of the AAMA Codes and Regulatory Affairs Committee and a member of the International Code Council (ICC).December 21, 2011
Code Update Presented During Fall Webinar
On November 15, the AAMA Western Region sponsored a Fall Webinar, featuring topics covering code requirements and green attributes. AAMA’s code consultant, Julie Ruth, PE, provided an overview of the status of I-code referencing by Western Region states, as well as an overview of code requirements affecting windows, doors and skylights. Consultant George Middleton then provided some valuable tips on reaching architects and specifiers regarding the green characteristics of fenestration products.December 21, 2011
California Building Materials Manufacturer to Pay $1.4 million to Settle Clean Air Act Violations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that CalPortland Company (CPC), a major producer of Portland cement and building materials in the United States, has agreed to pay a $1.425 million penalty to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act at its cement plant in Mojave, Calif.December 21, 2011
ENERGY STAR Tightens Requirements
Given the energy-saving benefits of high-performance fenestration and the positive influence it has on our industry, AAMA has joined others in urging a resumption of the tax credits that expired at the end of last year. These tax credits were, and future credits are likely to be, tied to performance levels dictated by the ENERGY STAR® program, which continues to tighten its requirements.November 29, 2011
AAMA Requests Better Tax Incentives for Energy-efficient Fenestration Products
The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) is recommending timely and significant government intervention to reduce severe construction industry unemployment. The association recently sent a letter to Chairman Dave Camp and members of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Ways and Means asking for effective tax incentives relating to energy-efficient fenestration products for homeowners.November 29, 2011
Australia Green Building Council Revises its Green Star Program
Back in 2002, the GBCA launched as a national, not-for-profit organization committed to developing a sustainable industry for Australia by encouraging the adoption of green building practices. Last year the GBCA, often thought of as Australia’s equivalent of the USGBC converted an anti-polyvinyl chloride (PVC) credit into a campaign for the responsible use of PVC. In April 2010, Green Star reversed their anti-PVC credit and created a two-point credit to encourage the responsible usage of PVC.November 28, 2011
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