American Architectural Manufacturers Association

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.

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 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

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.

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 28, 2011

Latest North American Fenestration Standard Published

The 2011 edition of AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440, NAFS — North American Fenestration Standard/Specification for windows, doors, and skylights (NAFS-11) has received final approval and is now available. This standard is the result of a multi-year effort by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and Window & Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA). The updated 2011 standard replaces the 2008 edition of the joint standard.