Making Windows Work

I’d mentioned a couple weeks back that I was working on a pretty neat article about solar energy. It seems that more designers, and glass manufacturers for that matter, are learning how to make their windows work for them. For instance, this link on today’s USGNN.com™ newsletter disccuses how store windows are “emerging as a new kind of billboard business.” Who needs to look through the glass when you can watch an advertisement on it?

We’ve made so many demands of glass in recent years, and it seems to be getting more complicated all the time. It’s no longer just enough for it to provide the perfectly clear view to the outside, let in natural light (while keeping out the heat, naturally), clean itself, etc., but now it also has to produce energy and keep us entertained.

And consider this incredible project that makes its glass products do both. By day, the Greenpix Zero Energy Media Wall in China uses its 20,000-square-foot glass-clad wall to soak up the sun—to produce enough energy to project videos at night.

That’s a lot for one product to accomplish. In researching my article on solar energy, it seemed incredible to me that glass could perform as highly as we’ve come to expect, and still be effective in these new roles.

But as Vince Van Son, commercial manager of Sustainable Solutions for Alcoa Building and Construction Systems, explained to me when we recently spoke, “building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems do not require the architect and building owner to give up or compromise other desired building features. Rather, BIPV systems can be complementary to the current and emerging demands of building owners, their occupants and society.”

I bet concrete manufacturers wish their product was this versatile!

Honor Your CEO

Today marks the last day for entries in the USGlass magazine 2008 CEO of the Year contest, and I’m pleased to say that I’ve received information on some great candidates. I can’t tell you how inspiring it is to receive these glowing nominations of employers in our industry.

And while it will already be tough enough to choose the winners to include in our December issue—I would like to use this as reminder as an opportunity to invite any last minute nominations. If it’s impressive enough, it’s worth an extra week’s wait, right? And don’t think that we’re only accepting nominations from the biggest companies out there—we’ll be choosing winners in two categories, large and small companies. CLICK HERE for a nomination form or contact me at mheadley@glass.com if you have any questions.

I’ve got to tell you, these profiles are among my favorite articles to write, because it’s always so interesting to sit down and talk one-on-one with an industry expert and to learn the history behind the company.

I blogged last November about my visit to Owatonna, Minn., to interview Don Pyatt, CEO of Viracon and I have my fingers crossed that I’ll be able to make a similar trip on the months ahead.

You can read both my profile of Don, as well as the profile of John Wheaton, CEO of Wheaton & Sprague Engineering, in the December 2007 USGlass.

A Long Road to Whistler

The Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance (IGMA) summer meeting started on Monday in Whistler, B.C. I feel that I should mention here that the fantastic people at IGMA really know how to pick a meeting location.

When my travels started on Saturday I couldn’t help but feel like someone at Travelocity needed a map as they had booked my flight from D.C. to Canada via Houston, but I didn’t mind the layover too much when it gave me a chance to stretch my legs … and admire the glazing in the E terminal. I felt a bit silly for being so excited to remember that when I profiled BHN Corp. in Memphis, Tenn., several years ago, they had just begun installing the glass in this wing. I particularly liked the clerestory effect of the curved windows three stories up, the natural light pouring in from all angles upon the travelers waiting below (see photo at left).

From Houston I finally made it to Vancouver—a few days early for the meeting as I had never previously had a chance to visit this amazing city. My first impression is that where in most big cities downtown is the place to be, the cityscape here just seemed in the way of the natural beauty of the mountains and rivers. Still, when traveling to an IGMA meeting, one couldn’t help but notice and appreciate the prevalent use of glass throughout the city (see photo).

The meetings kicked off on Monday and from the beginning it’s been evident that this group is here that despite the fantastic venue, the group is here to work. This isn’t one of those meetings where topics are talked about in circles. It’s been a productive and interesting meeting, with action taken in the gas permeability working group to further its test protocol for argon permeability through IGUs, there were some in-depth discussions on capillary tubes to further work in that task group and some progress made on a new educational seminar on IG manufacturing quality control. Not to mention that Tuesday’s lunch featured a timely session on building information modeling and specifically how it relates to manufacturers.

The group also discussed some exciting ideas for being more productive going forward, making this a great time for IG manufacturers to step up and get involved in the direction of this association.

Gonna Soak Up the Sun

We had a beautifully sunny day for my mom’s Memorial Day cookout a couple weekends back, which I suppose could be why the conversation turned the way that it did.

My uncle, the president of a company that manufactures stoplights, had mentioned that he was working on a project very close to where I live. I needled him about providing a stoplight in one particularly troublesome intersection, and he explained the history of the project on which he was working. Upon asking how long a stoplight is designed to last, he explained that many stoplights and other construction signs are powered these days by photovoltaic (PV) panels.

Solar energy, huh? I found the conversation even more interesting as I heard it echoed later that week when I spoke with Steve Fronek, vice president of Wausau Window and Wall Systems in Wausau, Wis., about this very topic.

“It’s a real interesting topic because the overall PV market worldwide is growing like a weed and, for obvious reasons, could really be a key segment for the overall market (building integrated photovoltaics) doesn’t really get the attention because the rest of the markets are growing so fast,” Fronek commented during our conversation. “Going through road construction you’ll see the road construction sites, or the emergency phones by the side of the interstate, are now powered by solar panels instead of battery packs.”

And notice I have. Between those two conversations, my commute to work has been much more interesting lately. It’s hard for me to not notice the small panels perched atop the occasional road sign. It’s rather comforting to know that in some ways the transportation industry has adapted to the rising costs of fuel and is turning to alternative power … even if it doesn’t benefit me in my weekly ventures to the gas pump!

But what’s that about building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV)? And why is it an area you should be giving attention? Well, in this day and age, BIPV doesn’t just mean those high-tech looking panels perched atop a house—it can mean power-generating spandrels and even transparent curtainwall and facades.

Maybe this solar energy thing is still just a small trend, but it’s one that’s beginning to get noticed big-time by the glass industry. Have you read USGNN.com lately?

• FTL Solar Gets Funds for Power-Generating Buildings
  
• First Solar Shareholder Signals Swoon With Sales
  
• PORTUGAL - Saint-Gobain Develops its Presence on the Solar Mirrors Market
  
• CZECH REPUBLIC - SCHOTT Solar Officially Opens New Module Production Facilities in Valasské Mezirící
  
• Cardinal Glass to Open Solar Panel Factory in Mazomanie
  
• Glaston Corporation Establishes Solar Energy Targeted
  
• HelioVolt Partners with Architectural Glass & Aluminum Co. for Building Integrated Solar Products
  
• Asahi Reports Agreement to Pay Fine and Other News (other solar news)
  
• Future Houses May be Made Entirely of Solar Cell Glass
  
• Global Solar Energy Opens Landmark Manufacturing Plant, Sets Full-scale Production Capacity Records
  
• Glasstech Forms New Solar Systems Business Unit, Includes Several Current High Tech Systems
  
• SCHOTT Solar Selects Mesa del Sol for New Solar Manufacturing Plant

And that’s just a few of the related stories we’ve covered since the start of this year …

For me personally, BIPV has meant one of the most interesting articles I’ve worked on for USGlass. Do you know how many types of technologies use the sun to generate power? And how many of them involve glass? And that it’s possible to produce a transparent window that creates electricity? I’ve been researching just this for an article set to appear in our July issue.

In the meantime, I’d love your input on this exciting topic. Specifically, if you know of any buildings in the D.C.-area making use of PV (especially in vision areas), be sure to let me know. You can shoot me an e-mail at mheadley@glass.com.