Windows and Building Envelopes Blog

Retirement of the Building Envelope and Windows R&D Program Blog

Webmaster — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 14:16:00 -0400

After June 2013 the Emerging Technologies program will no longer be updating the Building Envelope and Windows R&D Program Blog. News announcements, event notices, funding opportunity announcements, and other programmatic information for Building Envelope and Windows research can be found on the Building Technologies Office’s website. To receive program updates via email, please subscribe to the Fenestration and Building Envelope e-newsletters.

DOE releases Fenestration Attachment Certification and Labeling RFI!

Webmaster — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 17:53:00 -0400

The Department of Energy (DOE) recently released a Request for Information (RFI) on January 10th, 2013, requesting information and feedback from interested parties on a fenestration attachment energy rating and labeling effort. DOE is considering a future Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) regarding this topic and is seeking input from stakeholders on the appropriate scope and details regarding the potential FOA.

This is not a FOA; therefore the DOE is not accepting applications for funding regarding this topic at this time. Information on where to submit questions regarding the content of the announcement and where to submit questions regarding submission of responses can be found in the full RFI posted on the EERE Exchange website or at Grants.gov. All applications must be submitted by January 31st, 2013!

The Technical Analysis for Window Attachments Workshop Report has been Released!

Webmaster — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 17:39:00 -0400

This past summer, the Building Envelope and Windows R&D Program held the Technical Analysis for Window Attachment Workshop on July 16th and 17th in Arlington, Virginia, invitiing window attachment stakeholders to participate in a facilitated session to meet two objectives:

Provide up to date information on window attachment performance assessment methods to stakeholders
Discuss with key stakeholders what is needed and what is available to properly characterize window attachment performance, including:
- Test procedures
- Simulation programs
- Indices of performance
- Product categories

A report has been released containing the results of the workshop, and can be found below. Please review the results and send any comments to wzalis@energetics.com. Happy reading!

Technical Analysis for Window Attachments Workshop Report_FINAL.pdf (274.53 kb)

Building Envelope and Window R&D Program Releases Stakeholder Engagement Workshop Reports

Webmaster — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 22:45:00 -0400

This past summer, the Building Envelope and Windows R&D Program held two Stakeholder Engagement Workshops; one focused on Building Envelope Technology on June 26th in San Antonio, Texas, and another focused on Windows Technology on June 28th in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Building Envelope and Windows R&D Program stakeholders were invited to come hear the latest building envelope and windows project updates as well as discuss the future goals and priorities for the Building Envelope and Windows R&D Program. A report has been released for each workshop, for Building Envelope and Windows Technology. Please review the results of the workshop and the information collected during the breakout groups, and send any comments to wzalis@energetics.com. Happy reading!

DOE’s Decision Regarding Window Attachments and Rating, Certification and Labeling Programs

Webmaster — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 21:49:00 -0400

The Department recently reviewed Section 121 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct), which mandates that a “voluntary window rating program” to develop “energy rating and labels for windows and window systems” be developed by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). Pub. L. 102-486 § 121(a) (1992), codified at 42 U.S.C. § 6292 note.

DOE reviewed this section to determine if window attachments fell under the “voluntary rating program” developed by NFRC or whether another entity could develop ratings, certification and labeling systems for window attachments. The Department reviewed the statue, legislative history, technical data, and letters from the NFRC and the Window Covering Manufacturers Association.

Section 121 applies only to windows and window systems. However, window attachments are neither windows nor window systems. Therefore, the Department determined that EPAct Section 121 is inapplicable to window attachments.

Most Efficient Program for Windows to Launch in January 2013!

Webmaster — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 15:11:00 -0400

During an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted stakeholder meeting to discuss the Version 6.0 Energy Star criteria for windows, doors and skylights, it was announced that an EPA Most Efficient Program for window technology would be launched in January 2013. The meeting took place on Monday, August 27th, 2012.

The draft program criteria is expected to be in line with the Department Of Energy's High Performance Windows Volume Purchase Program (WVP), and is expected to be announced in the next few weeks. A stakeholder webinar in mid-September will also be announced in order to gather feedback on these Most Efficient requirements. The final requirements are expected to be set in the beginning of October.

What would requirements for a Most Efficient Program for windows look like? In addition to more stringent U-factor requirements (the WVP uses a U-Factor of ~0.2), the initial Most Efficient windows program will require structural product certification. Sign up to this blog for the latest updates on this new program!

ORNL Releases New Phase Change Materials Report!

Webmaster — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:59:00 -0400

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has released a new report titled Potential Energy Savings Due to Phase Change Material in a Building Wall Assembly: An Examination of Two Climates. The two climates investigated in the report include Phoenix, Arizona and Baltimore, MD, with two utility rate schedules.

The report focused on the concept that phase change materials (PCM) within an external wall may reduce the net energy transport through the wall via interactions with diurnal temperature swings in the external environment or reduce the electricity needed to meet the net load through the wall by shifting the time of the peak load to a time when the cooling system operates more efficiently. To learn more about this report, please visit the Department of Energy's (DOE) Information Bridge on DOE Scientific and Technical Information.

WVP Participant Provides R-5 Windows to DOE ARRA Project!

Webmaster — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:05:00 -0400

Another High Performance Windows Volume Purchase (WVP) Program participant is in the news: Mathews Brothers, headquartered in Belfast, Maine is participating in the rehabilitation of a former veterinary clinic at the old Brunswick Naval Air Station. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) project is part of an effort to turn the base (now called Brunswick Landing) into a hub for renewable energy and efficiency technology.

Along with Mathews Brothers, who provided R-5 windows to the project, the Department of Energy, the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA), Dow Corning, Dryvit and Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems, are all helping rehab of the former clinic to test the efficiency of a new vacuum-insulated wall paneling system. The building will be monitored for thermal efficiency, air infiltration and moisture performance over the next year as part of the project. Learn more about this exciting ARRA project and Mathews Brothers WVP participation today!

Windows Volume Purchase Program Participant Supplies 1800 R-5 Windows to Green Apartment Project!

Webmaster — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 11:45:00 -0400

The High Performance Windows Volume Purchase (WVP) Program is happy to share the news that WVP participant, B.F. Rich recently supplied 1800 R-5 windows (both fixed and operable windows) to the Radius Urban Apartments project, providing an eco-friendly apartment option to the people of Newport News, VA.

Architect Grey Mason with Cox, Kliewer & Co. (based in Virginia Beach) are behind the project that teamed with B.F. Rich, which features 1800 cabernet fixed and double hung windows with a dual glazed R-5 Greensheild Option Package, across five apartments. Learn more about this great project and the WVP Program!

Provide your feedback on the DOE-BTP Windows/Building Envelope Prioritization Tools!

Webmaster — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 17:27:00 -0400

Two weeks ago, the Building Envelope and Windows R&D Program presented two stakeholder engagement workshops; one focusing on Building Envelope Technologies and another focused on Window Technologies. At each of these meetings, DOE-BTP shared a new energy efficient technology prioritization tool meant to provide an objective comparison of new and existing technologies/measures, as well as estimated potential energy savings and estimated costs of conserved energy.

DOE-BTP is now asking for your feedback on the prioritization tool inputs to measures, found in both the windows technology prioritization tool and the building envelope technology prioritization tool. If you feel that any of the inputs to measures are incorrect, please send your feedback to prioritization.tool@nrel.gov (complete with a reputable source for alternatives). If you'd like to learn more about the inputs and outputs for the tool, please review the DOE presentations provided at the Building Envelope Technology Workshop and at the Windows Technology Workshop. And keep an eye out for an NREL report this summer with more information on the methodology approach!