The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), which establishes objective window, door, and skylight energy-performance ratings, is excited to support the recently announced national campaign to modernize and upgrade homes and commercial buildings to make them more energy efficient.
On Monday, the White House announced new programs through the Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Government Service Agency that will invest federal money in projects that aim to make buildings affordable, resilient, and energy efficient including the Initiative for Better Energy, Emissions, and Equity (E3 Initiative). The E3 Initiative includes efforts to promote the widespread use of highly efficient windows and window attachments that improve comfort and reduce building energy use.
As the official certification body for EPA’s ENERGY STAR® program for windows, doors, and skylights, also known as fenestration, NFRC-rated products ensure homeowners and building occupants that the window has been tested and rated to perform as specified. The nonprofit organization also operates the Efficient Windows Collaborative, which provides consumers with information and online resources so they can select the right windows for their homes through the Window Selection Tool. All windows in the Window Selection Tool are NFRC rated.
“Energy-efficient windows, doors, and skylights in homes and offices make buildings more comfortable for its inhabitants, save money on heating and cooling costs, and reduce carbon emissions for communities,” said NFRC CEO Deb Callahan. “For more than 30 years, NFRC has been rating energy performance and working in tandem with the fenestration industry to create innovative, more efficient products and see firsthand the market demand. Through this initiative, the Efficient Windows Collaborative and NFRC will showcase the essential role fenestration plays for buildings to become efficient, save energy, and reduce their environmental impact.”
Also, NFRC is looking forward to being an early partner with the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance as part of the official launch of the Partnership for Advanced Windows Solutions (PAWS) in the coming weeks. Together, this effort will provide a wide audience with resources on the value, benefits, and energy and cost savings of high-performing windows. Through the combining of resources, the PAWS initiative will help advance the improvements in windows and fenestration products within the building industry and manufacturing sectors.
“We envision this PAWS initiative as building alliances to collectively leverage our organizations’ expertise, relationships, and assets to meet the goals set out by this national campaign to modernize and update homes and commercial spaces,” Callahan said. “This combined effort has the potential to build loyal communities around high-performing, energy-efficient windows, doors, and skylights that reduce carbon emissions, save energy, and contribute to the plan for a new American infrastructure.”
