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Nevada enjoys 210 sunny days each year, earning the
distinction of being the country’s third sunniest state. Combined with average
daytime highs in the Las Vegas Valley hovering around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, controlling
solar heat gain is important for homeowners looking to save energy and improve
comfort.
This was an important consideration for Alexia Chen as she helped the
University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) choose the windows for its DesertSol
house – the school’s entry in the Solar Decathlon, which will be held at Orange
County Great Park
in Irvine, California October 3-13.
Public exhibit days are 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Oct. 3-6 and 11 a.m. until
7 p.m. Oct 10-13.
Chen, who graduated from UNLV in May with a degree in Masters
of Architecture, explains that DesertSol minimizes solar heat gain by using
operable windows on the north and south sides to assist with natural
ventilation and excluding windows on the east and west sides. North and south facing windows
are shaded during the hottest time of year.
The two main sliding doors
have a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of 0.27 and a U-factor of 0.28.
NFRC member company, NanaWall
Systems, Inc, provided the operable doors and windows to UNLV at a discount.
"Working on this project has
been great practical experience,” Chen said. "The windows and doors are making
a big difference in the way our house performs.”
Following the competition, DesertSol
will be permanently located at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve, 180 acres of
natural exhibits, botanical gardens, hiking trails, and desert-living
educational facilities built around the original water source of Las Vegas.
During today’s open board meeting, NFRC Chair, Steve Strawn,
awarded three outgoing board members for their commitment and contributions to
the organization.
Strawn first recognized Steve Farrar, who said, "One of the
most important things we’ve accomplished is getting CMA on track and ready for
prime time.”
Strawn next acknowledged Dr. Ross McCluney for his
involvement, saying few people possess as much knowledge. While accepting the
award, McCluney encouraged NFRC members to pursue more research initiatives.
Joe Hayden accepted the final award and told those in
attendance he’s found overcoming challenges through teamwork personally
rewarding.
"This is the finest group of people I’ve ever had the
privilege to work with,” Hayden said.
Strawn praised Hayden
for rising through the ranks and added that the board will miss his presence.
Seventeen attendees from NFRC's membership meeting took part in last night’s sustainability tour of
Arizona State University (ASU), one of the nation’s leaders in sustainable
campus initiatives.
Guided along the 1.5-mile-long walking tour by Nicholas R. Brown, Ph.D,
campus Director of University Sustainability Practices, Global Institute of
Sustainability, the group saw 43 LEED-certified buildings and learned that ASU
is home to 15 solar arrays.
Brown explained to the group that ASU has 60,000 students on its
downtown Tempe campus, with 10,000 of them using bikes and only 10 percent use cars.
ASU is the first college to offer both
sustainability graduate and undergraduate degrees.
Steve Johnson (left) reported during the Ratings Committee meeting
that the following six ballots were passed at the NFRC 700 Certification Subcommittee:
·
A move to approve the NFRC 700, Requests from Reorganization
Ballot, and forward to the board for approval with implementation upon publication
as reaffirmed 2014 document passed by unanimous voice vote.
·
A move to approve the NFRC 700, Air Leakage Test
Certification Cycle Ballot, with editorial changes and forward to the board for
approval with implementation upon publication as a 2014 document passed by
unanimous voice vote.
·
A move to approve the NFRC 700, Product Line
Extension Ballot, with editorial changes and forward to the board for approval
with implementation upon publication as a 2014 document passed by unanimous
voice vote.
·
A move to approve the NFRC 700, Section Five
Removed Components Ballot, forward to the board for approval with implementation
upon publication as a 2014 document passed by unanimous voice vote.
·
A move to approve the NFRC 700, Section Six
Permanent Label Ballot, with editorial changes and forward to the board for
approval with implementation upon publication as a 2014 document passed by voice
vote.
·
A move to approve the NFRC 700, Section Seven
Plant Inspection Report Ballot, and forward to the board for approval with
implementation upon publication as a 2014 document passed by unanimous voice
vote.
Tom Culp oversaw the Technical Interpretation Policy
Committee (TIPC) proceedings this afternoon as the group discussed two revised
THERM 6.3/WINDOW 6.3 manuals that were published earlier this year.
The first manual, published in June, added chapters for
simulating fenestration products with venetian blind slats between-the-glazing
and fritted glass. This version also revised modeling rules for glazing
cavities for gaps created by the venetian blinds.
The second version, published during July offered revisions
for general omissions and errors discovered in the June version.
Additionally, Dennis
Anderson, NFRC’s Laboratory Accreditation Program Manager, reported that TIPC
is working with the Simulators task group to create a chapter in the simulation
manual for modeling complex glazings outside the glass.
Tim Metcalfe, a daylight analyst with Duo-Gard Industries, has
volunteered to chair the Daylighting Potential Rating task group.
Following a call from Ross McCluney to step up efforts for
developing a daylighting potential rating, Metcalfe, whose expertise lies in
conducting simulations, stepped up to take on the role.
McCluney addressed the membership during the Daylighting
Subcommittee proceedings, explaining the proven psychological benefits that
come with maximizing daylight while minimizing glare, particularly in
commercial settings.
"Daylighting is one of the reasons we have windows in buildings,”
McCluney said. "Studies show the right amount of light improves job satisfaction
and makes workers more productive.”
McCluney also pointed out that daylighting is beginning to show
up routinely in the codes and will likely become more prevalent.
Technical Committee Chair, Mike Thoman, combined the Bright
Day Illuminance task group and the Daylighting Potential Rating Procedure task
group into one.
Subcommittee Chair, Roger LeBrun, said he is encouraged by
the renewed interest in the topic.
Joe Hayden offered a motion during the Research and
Technology Committee to disband the Window 6 - Therm 6 Validation Rating Research
task group and deem the project complete.
The motion carried by
unanimous voice vote and will be presented to the Board of Directors on Wednesday for final approval.
Mike Thoman has graciously
accepted NFRC’s Member-of-the-Year award.
Last year’s recipient, Tom Culp, presented the award,
referring to Thoman as "an inspiration to us all” while praising his diligence
and commitment.
Thoman thanked the membership for the opportunity to serve over the past
13 years and said he hopes to continue for many more.
"NFRC is an amazing
organization with so many great people,” Thoman said. "What I’ve found most
rewarding is sharing and building ideas and watching them move forward.”
Tempe City Councilman, Corey Woods, welcomed NFRC to the
city during today’s opening session.
Woods addressed the membership, pointing out that the city
is dedicated to improving energy efficiency and has shown its commitment to
accomplishing this by adopting the latest version of the International Energy
Conservation Code (IECC).
Woods also praised NFRC’s membership for its
ongoing work.
During this morning’s task group meetings, Jeff Baker
proposed developing a component modeling concept for simplifying how doors are
tested and certified.
Baker pointed out that under the proposed concept, door
slabs would continue to be modeled as they are today. It would, however, need
to make certain assumptions about door lites.
These include the following:
·
Steel with EPS and PU cores
·
Fiberglass with EPS and PU cores
In addition to establishing a default door core EPS value
and creating business rules to develop the calculation tool, Baker sees the
need to define the door lite library formats, the door slab library formats,
and the door slab cores for modeling door lites.
Baker envisions the proposed concept providing value by
streamlining NFRC’s current process.
"Modeling work only needs to be done once,” Baker said. "It’s
approved and stored on an NFRC server.”
Baker added that users would be notified when there
is a change, so they can be assured they are accessing a library file that’s
current.
The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is the trusted, independent, nonprofit certification body for the energy performance of windows, doors, and skylights. With more than 35 years of expertise, NFRC is the standard-bearer in fenestration performance certification, providing the public with objective data that helps stakeholders make informed decisions about product and building performance. NFRC certification ensures that products are tested using precise, scientifically validated methods, resulting in ratings that are fair, accurate and credible. Contact us at info@nfrc.org.
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Seventeen attendees from NFRC's membership meeting took part in last night’s sustainability tour of
Arizona State University (ASU), one of the nation’s leaders in sustainable
campus initiatives.
Steve Johnson (left) reported during the Ratings Committee meeting
that the following six ballots were passed at the NFRC 700 Certification Subcommittee:
Mike Thoman has graciously
During this morning’s task group meetings, Jeff Baker
proposed developing a component modeling concept for simplifying how doors are
tested and certified.