Volume 10, Issue 1 - January 2009
Volume 10, Issue 1 - January 2009
Going,
Going … Green
Manufacturers Set Their Sights on Green Market
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SPACER SYSTEMS Truseal Technologies now offers offers Duralite™, a third-generation warm-edge spacer system, which contains no metal and is high-performing, according to company officials. The patented Duralite design features a composite laminating technology without the use of metal, resulting in thermal and durability performance. The multilayer spacer is designed to resist condensation, create a warm edge of glass temperature, a smooth surface appearance and long-lasting argon gas retention. Duralite was designed for high-volume production of
dual and triple pane insulating glass units in a one-step process where
units are sealed using heat and compression. Although designed as a
single-seal system, Duralite also can be used with a secondary sealant to
create a dual-seal unit. Get Air-Tight™ Glasslam’s Air-Tight Generic system is a flexible
foam tape spacer that is designed to provide warm-edge performance for
insulating glass production. Company officials say the system also
provides consistent, pleasing sight lines, simple manufacturing,
condensation resistance, and precision tolerances. Sizes range from
3⁄16- to 3⁄4 inches. FRAMING MATERIALS The Profine Group in Vancouver, Canada, has designed its TROCAL brand of window profile systems to be sustainable PVC products. The systems are designed with low carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumptions and without the use of PVC stabilizers that contain lead or tin. Likewise, the company says it uses materials intelligently in an effort to minimize the use of raw materials. The company also utilizes recycled “regrinds,”
which are invisible on the final window product, and, according to the
company, provide high quality with less use of material. SierraPine Receives CARB Exemption SierraPine has announced that it has received the first Executive Order issued by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) granting a No Added Formaldehyde (NAF) Exemption under the provisions of the state’s toughest formaldehyde emission regulation. This Exemption recognizes the absence of formaldehyde in the adhesive system SierraPine uses in producing all of its Sustainable Design Fiberboard products, and it means that these exempt products meet or surpass the emission requirements in Phase 2 of the CARB Regulation 93120. “The fact that SierraPine is the first company to receive a CARB Exemption underscores our commitment and leadership in developing and producing sustainable composite panel products,” says Chris Leffel, SierraPine vice president of sales and marketing. “There is still a misunderstanding in the market between adhesive systems that are truly formaldehyde-free and other low-emitting systems that may meet the ‘No Added Urea Formaldehyde’ requirement of the LEED® building standards, but that are still formaldehyde-based. The exemption we have been granted by the State of California should help clear up that confusion.” While SierraPine must still comply with the labeling
requirements of the regulation, company officials say the exemption eases
the burden of costly continuous product testing required for non-exempt
products. The Exemption applies to all SierraPine SDF products, including
ARREIS, Medex, Medite II and Medite FR. GLASS PPG Industries has announced that it has earned Cradle to Cradle Certification from McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry at the Silver tier for all of its architectural glass products. The glasses were awarded the certification after a thorough audit of the materials used in their formulation and production, and the processes used to manufacture them, according to the company. Cradle to Cradle Certification is an independent evaluation of the total impact of a product on human health and the environment throughout its lifecycle, from the sustainability of its material ingredients and their ability to be re-utililized, to how efficiently water and energy are used in their manufacture. The product manufacturer also must demonstrate socially responsible corporate practices that encompass social fairness, ethical business standards and environmental stewardship. Building projects seeking Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building
Council may be able to earn one point in the “Innovation in Design”
category by using Cradle to Cradle Certified products. PROJECTS Energy Star-rated windows from Pella Corp. were used recently in the renovation of a 1960s ranch in Phoenix. The ranch was remodeled by developer Philip Beere in an effort for the home to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard. Ultimately the house, which now features seven Pella insulating wood windows, received a gold LEED rating. “We
couldn’t be more pleased with how the whole house came together and one
of the focal points is the fixed panoramic window on the front of the
home,” says Beere. “Pella® Designer Series® windows were the obvious
choice because of their energy efficient qualities and aesthetic
appeal.” FINISHED PRODUCTS Five of the double-hung replacement window models from Gorell Windows and Doors have earned Green Seal certification. Gorell says it is one of only two window companies that offers products certified by Green Seal, an independent, nationally recognized non-profit green organization based in Washington, D.C. Some of the Green Seal criteria pertains to material extraction, manufacturing processes, usage and recycling/disposal. Other criteria such as U-value, solar heat gain coefficient, product packaging and labeling and manufacturing and testing procedures all played a role in the Gorell products achieving Green Seal certification. “For all our replacement double-hung models to be
certified by Green Seal says a lot about Gorell and the products we
manufacture,” says Wayne Gorell, president and chief executive officer.
“Practically every manufacturer claims to be ‘green,’ but this
achievement, along with five straight years of Energy Star Partner of the
Year awards, prove we truly are committed to helping to protect the
environment by manufacturing highly energy-efficient, green products.” WINDOW REPAIR While recycling PVC has become a popular way to avoid
sending a damaged window to the landfill, Weiss USA LLC has another
option: repair the vinyl. The company has designed Cosmofen RM for this
purpose; the material is used to repair cracks, false drillings and other
damages on PVC-hard profiles. According to the company, it has excellent
adhesion, impact resistance and resists ultraviolet radiation. Fenzi Aims for Eco-Friendly Performance Fenzi North America recently has focused on research and technological innovation in an attempt to improve the eco-compatibility of its products. For example, the company has developed innovative paints for DURALUX G glass; the paints are lead- and formaldehyde-free, have 70 percent fewer solvents than standard paints and resist abrasion and chemical aggression. In addition, Fenzi recently developed CHROMATECH
ULTRA with the assistance of industry partners Rolltech and Alu Pro. The
CHROMATECH ULTRA thermal break spacer, available in stainless steel and
polycarbonate, provides low thermal transmittance, excellent adhesion of
sealants, a rigid frame and retention of the gas inside the insulating
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