Net Zero Is the Way to Go

I think we can debate the merits of programs like LEED until we’re all blue in the face.  The bottom line to me is going to be the performance and sustainability of that building when all is said and done.  And while the various green rating systems are pivoting and making efforts to evolve their programs into ensuring long-range success, there’s one process that guarantees it.  That would be the Net Zero building and its ability to accomplish the ultimate goals our world needs.  Slowly but surely Net Zero is taking off, and where its important to our industry is this is one process that rewards the glass/glazing performance and basically will force those pesky HVAC guys to size their efforts correctly.   Too many times we get blamed (unfairly I must add) for the oversizing of HVAC units because there’s no trust in the fenestration.  With Net Zero, we’re all working together and the playing field does level.  There’s a ton to this process, and its still pretty raw, but I do believe it will be in the main stream sooner than many think.

Elsewhere…

--  Speaking of sustainability, one of the great champions of the effort in our industry is Mark Silverberg of Technoform.  Last week he was named to the AAMA Sustainability Steering Committee.  Can’t get a better man than that to be a force in the effort!

--  The energy of the trade show/industry conference is the hottest in years.  So far 2014 is showing a major uptick in attendance and excitement.  A couple more regional shows are coming up to be aware of.  The 27^th Annual Mid Atlantic Glass Expo hits April 30^th in Greenbelt, MD.  Then in Canada the Canadian Glass Associations Glass Connections conference in Nova Scotia (would love to go, birthplace of the great Sidney Crosby) comes through on June 4-5.  Both events will provide excellent learning and networking potential.  And don’t forget about the granddaddy of them all, the biggest show in all of North America- GlassBuild America, September in Vegas.  That floor is filling up nicely and will be an incredible event not to be missed.

--  So after a hiatus in doing interviews on the blog, we welcome that segment back.  One area of the business that I am always fascinated by is the switchable glass one- specifically the Liquid Crystal (LC) and the Suspended Particle (SPD) products.  These products are growing in usage thanks to the boom on the decorative glass side.  It’s surely moving up from the “niche” category.  So it was great to catch up with Anthony Branscum, Director of Architectural Sales at Innovative Glass Corp. in New York and talk with him on the growth of the product, some of misconceptions out there and more.

MP: What do you think is driving this positive direction and usage?

Anthony Branscum: I think it’s mainly because the products have come a long way and are now beyond the “Proof of Concept” stage.  Architects around the country, and the world for that matter are realizing the practical benefits of using these products in their designs.  Perhaps more important, they have gained confidence that the technology will last when it gets out there.  They have become educated consumers. 

MP: Speaking specifically on the liquid crystal product there’s been talk recently in different circles about uneven performance and products failing.  Do you think such talk is legitimate or is it being overblown?

AB: I have heard and read some of the same things you are alluding to.  There’s a lot of posturing going on within the industry right now. Some suppliers of switchable glass are spending a lot of time bashing their competitors instead of talking about their own virtues.  They believe it makes their product appear as if it’s “the best”, but what they’re really doing is hurting the industry at large.  They’re creating a perception out there that the product won’t last.  It is simply not true.  When fabricated properly one can expect many years of service from liquid crystal technology.  Of course there are companies that don’t produce a great product, but they are not the majority and time will eventually run out on them.

MP: What should buyers do or look for to make sure they are dealing with the right people?

AB: They should make sure whoever they are dealing with can provide them a functioning sample.  They should ask for a copy of the warranty.  They should definitely ask for references and perhaps ask to see a job local to them where the glass has successfully been installed.  If the vendor can’t satisfy these requests in a timely fashion they should think twice about going too far with them. 

MP: You and your company have been in the switchable space for more than a decade.  What’s some of he biggest changes you have seen with the product offerings?

AB: The biggest change has been the advancement in the clarity of the LC films when they are in their clear state.  The industry has come a long way in achieving better clarity.  The second notable advancement would be the film widths.  The product is available in wider widths than ever before.  This helps satisfy most of the common architectural sizes we come across.

LINKS of the WEEK

--  6-year-old dancer starring in clubs??

--  This is excellent… BMW parks in front of a fire hydrant…. And….

--  Very cool teacher sending letters that his students wrote 20 years previous.

VIDEO of the WEEK

This past Sunday a young man named Rob Jones finished an incredible task.  He rode his bike from Maine to San Diego.  And if that was not hard enough… he did it with prosthetics as he lost both of his legs fighting for our country in Afghanistan.  The TODAY show recently did a piece on Rob and it tells the story very well.  Congrats Rob, you are a true HERO!