Volume 13, Issue 8 - October 2012
Energy & Environmental News
ENERGY STAR
Kohler also mentioned the MEP as part of Energy Star’s future. Doug Anderson, project manager for the Energy Star Program, offered some additional insights, though he said he couldn’t divulge all of the specifics just yet. Anderson affirmed that windows will be folded into the current Energy Star Most Efficient Program, which is currently in place for other Energy Star programs. Anderson said the windows program will be similar to what EPA has in place for heating and cooling equipment. “The program will not include prices,” he said. “I know that was an issue in the windows volume purchase program.” He added that the agency is considering using the same U-factor specified for the windows volume purchase program, and that the EPA plans to propose a minimum VT rating and will require NAFS certification. Manufacturers will have to fill out forms affirming their products are NAFS certified and then the product lines will be listed on the Most Efficient website beginning in January 2013. Finally, the SHGC will be in line with the latest Energy Star criteria. Additionally, the Most Efficient designation won’t include a label to be affixed to products, but it may be included in store signage, websites, displays, etc. As part of the discussions, stakeholders also had the opportunity to offer input on the latest draft. The EPA offered a limited number of stakeholder presentations so various companies and associations took advantage of this opportunity. Jeff Inks, vice president of codes and regulatory affairs for the Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA), and Richard Walker, president of the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), spoke on behalf of their members. Both addressed the air leakage requirement and Inks said he supports this addition but existing certifications such as WDMA’s Hallmark should be allowed for verification purposes without any special new labeling. Walker said the EPA needs to be clear that the air leakage numbers have to be verified–not just reported. Inks also addressed the requirement regarding the fact that installation instructions must be included, and said the WDMA does have some concerns. “While we understand the intent of the provisions for Energy Star, a simpler requirement is adequate without listing what must be included,” said Inks, noting installation instructions are already required by the building code. Door and window manufacturers then shared their views and that included Jeld-Wen’s Ray Garries who began his presentation by reiterating that doors, windows and skylights are different than other Energy Star products. “Our primary concerns are in the protection of the brand and increasing sales of branded products,” he said. “Also, there are still around a billion really bad windows that have to be replaced.” Garries’ presentation was based on hard data, and displayed a chart to show that Energy Star window sales are falling off. “Energy Star has reported a large increase in market share to 81 percent, but sales of Energy star products have dropped dramatically over the last four years,” he said. “So they key is affordability.” Skylight stakeholders also made some key points regarding their products and Walker urged the EPA to keep in mind “the need to apply the same rigor and thoughtfulness to skylights as windows.” He added that tubular daylighting devices (TDD) should be put in a separate category. Ray Dill, engineering manager, ODL, also spoke about TDD’s and noted that the .45 criteria listed now is “probably not practical.” DOE Explores Attachments as an Added Way
to Offer Energy-Efficient Benefits New Resource Can Aid Window Companies
in Energy Audits The new standard also includes a number of references to doors and windows. For example, under the “Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation” section, the standard provides certain exceptions it says can reduce or eliminate the need to install a whole-building ventilation system. It notes that “whole-building ventilation systems aren’t required for homes without mechanical cooling in International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) Zones 1 and 2 or for homes that are conditioned for less than 876 hours per year. These exceptions all require that the local jurisdictional authority determines that windows are an acceptable method of ventilation (ASHRAE Standard 62.2 – 2010, Section 4.1).” In addition, under “Building Enclosure Performance,” the standard notes that energy audits must include an evaluation of the performance of the building enclosure and include recommendations for upgrades as appropriate. According to the standard, this includes evaluating window performance and fit by testing operation. Also noted is an estimation of U-factors and solar heat gain coefficients of doors, windows and skylights, including “evaluation of the feasibility and energy savings for window treatments, interior and exterior,” and “evaluation of window improvements in thermal resistance and/or exterior shading devices.” The next step for BPI is to have the standard published by the American National Standards Institute. Steve Rennekamp, owner of Energy Swing Windows in Murrysville, Pa., says the BPI standard is something that will help move the industry in the right direction, providing a level of creditability and consumer confidence. “The development of a standard that is understood and accepted
by the industry is always a very good thing for both the consumer and
the companies who are trying to ‘do the right thing,’” he says. “I still
believe that energy audits are important. The real question is, ‘are enough
people interested and willing to make an investment in the study and then
take action on the recommendations?’ I think that it is going to be awhile
[unless, for example, the government mandates or incentivizes the process
…] for the consumer to take the audit step. While the audit gives them
great information, the money that is spent on doing it right does nothing
to fix the problem unless you spend more money.” (For more on conducting
energy audits, see DWM, July-August, page 38).
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