W&D Weekly - July 23, 2008 | Vol 3, Num 30
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NWDA Wants to Expand Lobbying Efforts

Facing more stringent requirements in Energy Star criteria—and frustrated with the limited tax incentives offered to people replacing windows—members of the Northeast Window & Door Association have been talking about the need for the industry to start lobbying more in Washington. ...

Vernon, NJ—Facing more stringent requirements in Energy Star criteria—and frustrated with the limited tax incentives offered to people replacing windows—members of the Northeast Window & Door Association have been talking about the need for the industry to start lobbying more in Washington. At its summer meeting, the group heard from two representatives of the National Association of Manufacturers, who noted that with elections coming up, it is an excellent time to get involved.

Pointing to the strength of the industry back in the 1970s, when tax incentives promoted a variety of energy efficient home upgrades, BFRich’s George Simmons urged owners and presidents of NWDA member companies to get more involved in the organization and support efforts to get its voice heard in Washington.


“Get smart,” said NAM’s Dave Asselin. “Get to know your legislators. Get to know your member of Congress. Invite them to your plant. Let them see what you do. Let them know how many employees work in your facility.” With everyone in the House up for re-election now, added NAM’s Tara Smith, representatives and their opponents are looking for events and places to get coverage. They may be more receptive to this type of invitation now.

Tara Smith and David Asselin of the National Association Manufacturers urged attendees to invite their legislators and members of Congress to their plants.


If they do come, Asselin continued, “Don’t be afraid to let them know your concerns. If an Energy Star tax credit is important, let them know that.”

The two also offered advice for NWDA in general about how it could get more involved in Washington, suggesting there are an array of firms and individuals that the organization could contract with to monitor legislative and regulatory activity and represent NWDA’s interests.

Jim Benney, executive director of the National Fenestration Rating Council, was also on the agenda, offering attendees an update on recent activity related to Energy Star, as well as incoming requirements within the NFRC rating program for IG certification. One of the primary reasons Energy Star is moving to become more stringent, he noted, is that building and energy codes in various states have become more stringent. The Energy Star label is designed to represent the top tier of products, as far as energy efficiency is concerned, but in some states, the current Energy Star minimums are less stringent than code.

Jim Benney reviewed current plans for new IG certification requirements within NFRC’s program.


Because codes are becoming so much more stringent, Benney indicated it would be tough for the industry to convince the Department of Energy to not make Energy Star criteria more stringent. He suggested, however, that there may be an opportunity for the industry to push for incentives or programs in the remodeling and replacement market. There are 60 million homes in America that still have single-glazing, he stated. As America looks to increase overall energy savings, there is a real opportunity there.
Still in draft mode, the requirement for certification of IG in order for windows, doors or skylights to carry the NFRC label is an idea that has been “stirring around” for the past year and a half, Benney noted. It is something that has been pushed by the Department of Energy, which sits on NFRC’s board, for the Energy Star program, he added. The primary reason people are promoting IG certification is that NFRC has not been successful in developing some sort of “long-term durability” rating method for products, but there is significant evidence that IG units that are built, tested and certified to certain standards offer good long-term performance.

NFRC is not creating a new IG certification program, but plans to allow manufacturers seeking NFRC certification to use one of the existing IG programs available, Benney reported. One requirement that NFRC plans to add, however, concerns gas-filled units. It plans to mandate a minimum initial fill rate of 90 percent, and require units to still have 80 percent fill rate after they have completed life-cycle testing procedures.

Once IG certification is officially passed by NFRC, Benney concluded, it will be two years before the requirements are enforced.

NWDA also heard an industry update from Michael Collins of Jordan Knaupf & Co., a Chicago-based firm. The current market picture is not very bright, he stated, but the long-term outlook—both for new housing and remodeling—remains fairly bright. Investors also remain very interested in the window and door industry, he added, because unlike other industries, they continue to see window and door manufacturers as more insulated from overseas competition. JGS

California Adopts First Statewide
Green Building Code

California on July 17 became the first state to enact a green building code, aiming to increase energy efficiency and reduce water consumption in all construction throughout
the state. ...

California on July 17 became the first state to enact a green building code, aiming to increase energy efficiency and reduce water consumption in all construction throughout the state. The new standards include provisions which will increase the stringency of existing statewide energy standards by 20 percent.

“Once again California is leading the nation and the world in emissions reductions and finding new ways to expand our climate change efforts,” says Rosario Marin, chair of the California Building Standards Commissions. “The commission should be commended for bringing everyone to the table including representatives of the construction and building trades industry, environmental groups and labor organizations, and achieving something no other state has been able to."

Industry groups quickly issued statements backing the move, claiming that it will move green building into the mainstream.

“California homebuilders are already building homes that are far more energy-efficient than homes built to national standards, and that also conserve water and other important natural resources,” says Robert Rivinius, California Building Industry Association president and CEO. “In fact, the carbon footprint of a new home built today is already 25 percent less than that of a home built in 1990. CBIA says the new standards will make new California homes approximately 50 percent more energy-efficient than homes built to national energy standards.

“Our members are willing and eager to take green building to the next step, but we need consistent, understandable and cost-effective standards that will ensure we don’t add to the state’s already critical housing affordability problems,” Rivinius adds. “By mandating these practical and cost-effective green building standards statewide, the state is once again taking a pioneering role in ensuring Californians enjoy environmentally friendly homes at a cost they can afford.”

"It should come as no surprise that as the state with the most up to date building codes in the nation, California is also the first state in the nation to adopt a Green Building Standards Code,” says Kurt Cooknick, director of regulation and practice for the American Institute of Architects, California Council. “The AIACC applauds the hard work of the many individuals and entities that collaborated toward this effort to protect California's environment and promote energy efficiency in the built environment.”

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a green building standard in October 2007, citing a conflict in the green standard and existing state safety standards and encouraging the state commission to develop a standard through an open process.

The new code contains standards for single-family homes, health facilities and commercial buildings. The code is composed of optional standards that will become mandatory in the 2010 edition of the code. This adjustment period will allow for industry and local enforcement agencies to prepare for, and comply with, the new green building standards, the commission reports.

Moving forward after 2010, the California Green Building Standards Code will be updated on an annual basis to ensure that the latest technology and methods of construction have been incorporated to always maintain a high level of standards.

Round Top Shuts Down in Ontario and Ohio

The Ontario and Ohio operations of Round Top Window Products closed their doors in June. ...

The Ontario and Ohio operations of Round Top Window Products closed their doors in June. Dianne Waterhouse, founder and owner of the specialty window producer, says the company was forced to declare bankruptcy due to problems associated with the start-up of the Ohio facility, compounded by the downturn in the housing market.

Round Top closed the doors on its Ontario facility in June.


Two West Coast facilities—one in The Dalles, Ore., and the other in Kamloops, B.C.—are under a different ownership structure and continue to operate.

Round Top’s operations in Brantford, Ont., and Orrville, Ohio, are now in the hands of trustees, who are looking for a buyer, Waterhouse reports. "We are hoping that someone buys the assets of the Ontario plant and gets it back up and running," she states. "The staff we have there is just unbelievable. I may have been the face of Round Top, as far as the industry is concerned, but the people there are the real asset.” When the Brantford plant shut down, the plant had 32 employees. At its peak, 75 people worked in the facility.

Waterhouse also hopes there will be a buyer for the Ohio facility, which she notes is equipped with new state-of-the-art equipment.

Problems getting equipment delivered to Round Top’s Ohio facility led to bankruptcy filing.


That facility, she continues, was designed for highly efficient bending of vinyl, aluminum, wood, and cellular components, and production of specialty windows including specialty grids and impact glass production. It was going to be the first of five constructed in the U.S., Waterhouse explains, with the goal to have facilities within eight hours of all major customers by 2011.

The problems arose when all the equipment for the Ohio plant was delivered in June last year, with the exception of the glass equipment from supplier. Despite the sizable investment and a staff trained and ready to go, the plant was only able to “limp along the best we could, all the while just eating up all our cash flow,” she notes.

In December 2007, Round Top filed a suit against the equipment supplier, Ontario-based Corsteel Lindgren Automation. “The one good thing about the bankruptcy,” Waterhouse notes, “is now the banks take over that suit.”

The trustees, she reports, are hoping to find buyers for the operations by the end of August. While Waterhouse has no long-term plans for the moment, she says her immediate plans now include assisting in the sale and start-up of the two facilities in any way she can.

“I can’t say enough about the people in this industry,” Waterhouse adds, despite the experience. “We have great customers. I’ve been trying to call all of them to thank them for their support over the years,” she continues. ”The one message I’d like to get out to the industry is, ‘if I missed anyone, I’d like to apologize.”

Parties interested in finding out more about the Brantford facility can call Peter Pichelli at Scott & Pichelli (905/632-5853). Information on the Ohio facility is available by contacting Tom Ogg at National City (330/742-4139).

Investment Firm Acquires Bradco Stake

Advent International, a global buyout firm, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a majority interest in Bradco Supply Corp., a distributor of roofing materials and other building
products. ...

Advent International, a global buyout firm, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a majority interest in Bradco Supply Corp., a distributor of roofing materials and other building products. Bradco was founded by the Segal family in 1966, which will continue to own a significant minority stake in the business.

Based in Avenel, N.J., the distributor operates more than 150 locations across 30 states and reports annual sales in excess of $1.7 billion. Bradco offers windows, doors and skylights from Andersen, Jeld-Wen, MI Windows & Doors, NorthEast Windows, Simonton, Survivor, Therma-Tru and Velux.

“The Segal family has built Bradco into one of the premier distributors in the industry,” says Stephen Hoffmeister, a principal in Advent’s Boston office. “The company has an excellent reputation with customers, founded on delivering outstanding service over four decades. We plan to support management and its strong commitment to providing contractors and builders with quality products, competitive prices and the best customer service in the industry.”

Ted Boylan will continue as CEO, and the rest of the Bradco management team will remain the same, according to a letter prepared by Brad Segal, president, posted on the company’s Web site. “The most significant change aside from the transfer of ownership will be our access to additional capital and increased ability to grow the company through acquisitions and regional expansion.”

The value of the transaction and other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

...

House Expected to Vote on Housing Stimulus This Week
from Nation’s Building News
The National Association of Home Builders continues to push for an extension of the proposed home buyer tax credit as a Congressional vote looms. ... read more

ICC Asks Congress to Support Code Enforcement
from International Code Council
Testifying before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, ICC CEO Rick Weiland said the group supports increasing energy efficiency in the built environment. Weiland also told the Committee that compliance with energy efficiency codes could be better achieved with financial support for code officials. The House of Representatives approved and sent to the Senate the Community Building Code Administration Grant Act, legislation that would provide funding to local building departments to support code adoption and compliance. ... read more

Building a New Home in a Slumping Market
from the Wall Street Journal
Increasing costs for building a new home have flattened and contractors are willing to negotiate, leaving some seeing an opportunity for when the market bounces back. ... read more