The Chinese government, which wants to promote energy efficient windows, doors and skylights throughout China with a national green building standards program, joined NFRC to learn about the systems and procedures in the United States.

To get a better understanding, 15 Chinese building officials and engineers led by the Shandong Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development met with NFRC’s executive leadership team at their corporate headquarters in Greenbelt, Maryland. As the leading organization that establishes the energy performance rating for windows, doors, and skylights, NFRC sees this meeting with the Chinese as an opportunity to help them develop a comprehensive rating system for their residential and commercial products.

“This group of Chinese engineers from Shandong Province met with NFRC program staff to learn about the rating system process used in the United States.”

NFRC provided the delegation with a high-level overview before answering specific questions regarding the program and government involvement. NFRC executives highlighted the role the industry and their approach to providing residential and commercial buyers with the information they need to make a purchasing decision.

The Chinese delegation was interested in NFRC’s mission of advancing the improvements of windows, doors and skylights. The delegation wanted to understand how to achieve this without promoting one company over another. NFRC explained that they are able to produce and create a level playing field with their Product Certification Program consisting of test labs, simulations and independent certification. 

NFRC also discussed collaboration between other associations and industries including the international fenestration industry, EnergyStar of the United States and the International Energy Conservation Code. This was an important part because the Chinese delegation wanted to ascertain how NFRC works with other industries and the government to execute their mission.

The meeting concluded with the Chinese delegation taking away important information on how NFRC helps commercial and residential manufacturers, builders and consumers understand the efficiency of the windows, doors and skylights to make an informed buying decision. 

“Junqiao ‘June’ Chen translates answers to questions into Chinese for the group of engineers who attended."