April 27, 2021
Tools to Understand NFRC’s Label
NFRC is hosting a webinar Thursday, April 29 at 11 a.m. (ET) that shares information and resources industry professionals can use to make the organization’s energy-performance ratings more relatable to the public. Learn more about NFRC’s Toolbox that includes an array of resources and how to interpret its energy-performance rating label from Tom Herron, NFRC’s senior director of business development and special projects. Participants can receive one hour of AIA continuing education credit by attending the session. 

“If you’re someone who needs to explain the importance of these ratings to others, this webinar is for you,” said Deb Callahan, NFRC’s CEO. To register for this webinar, click here.

Also, Tom discusses the NFRC Retailer Program that provides salespeople the tools to understand and explain the value of energy-efficient windows using the NFRC energy-performance label to consumers at the point-of-purchase. Read here in Window + Door Magazine. 
Training and Educational Opportunities Abound at NFRC
 
Through an ongoing series of webinars and online trainings, NFRC brings valuable resources coupled with new programs and member benefits to you. Here are the upcoming webinars that you don’t want to miss: 
  • VELUX Lifetime Carbon Calculation Webinar - May 4, 2021, 11 a.m. EDT. Skylight manufacturer and NFRC member VELUX shares their plan to become lifetime carbon neutral by 2041. The VELUX Group has committed to reducing its future carbon footprint by cutting the emissions of its own operations and value chain. Speakers include Helle Carlsen Nielsen, head of sustainability, external relations and sustainability, and Kim Jonas, director global health, safety and environment at Velux. Register here.


  • Emerging Technology Webinar Series – Five-part Series Starting May 20, 2021 2:30 p.m. EDT. Experts, scientists, and researchers from the national labs will introduce NFRC members to the latest innovations and technologies that will revolutionize the fenestration industry in the not-so-distant future. This series of webinars will link early-stage technology developers to industry leaders to bring these inventions to market. Topics include vacuum insulated glazing, aerogel, dynamic glass, PV glass, and thin glass. Additional information on dates, topics, and registration is here.


  • 2021 NFRC ACE Training: NFRC will provide online training for those wishing to become Approved Calculation Entities (ACE) within the Component Modeling Approach Program (CMA). The training is scheduled to last for two hours. Registration and additional information is available HERE. Space is limited so register early!
Interested in Joining NFRC’s Board of Directors?

If you’ve ever considered serving on NFRC’s board of directors, then now is your chance! In 2022, NFRC will need to fill two open seats to begin service in January 2022 in the following categories:

  • General Interest – not-for-profit or consumer organization
  • Fenestration Industry – Commercial Manufacturer

To be considered for either of NFRC board positions above, please submit this form. In the summer, the governance committee will review the candidates and present a slate to the membership at the end of August. Remember, your vote is your voice, and we encourage you to vote when the polls open in the fall. For more information, contact Becky Meadows at bmeadows@nfrc.org.
Podcast: Through the Glass: Conversation with VELUX America CEO, Tim Miller
In this episode, we sit down with Tim Miller, CEO of VELUX America, an NFRC member company that started in Denmark and manufactures skylights and roof windows. Tim discusses VELUX’s commitment to becoming lifetime carbon neutral by 2041, the company’s 100-year anniversary, and how they plan to do it. In addition to VELUX’s sustainability strategy, Tim shares how the company works closely with NFRC to continuously improve the energy efficiency of their products. Listen here.
All Notifications for FenStar Verification Tests for 2021 Sent 

All initial notifications for the FenStar® Certification Program verification tests for 2021 have been sent. The FenStar staff appreciates the cooperation from participants and their prompt responses. This year, we have created 122 records, with 53 test units at the test lab and 45 verification tests already complete.

We will continue to contact non-responsive participants for follow-up. All non-compliant participants were reported to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on April 1. Information regarding changes to the FenStar program and status updates on verification tests are on the NFRC FenStar landing page. Questions to staff can be sent to fvt@nfrc.org. Thank you for your continued support of NFRC and the FenStar and ENERGY STAR® programs.
Attend the Inaugural Advanced Building Construction Summit

The inaugural Advanced Building Construction (ABC) Summit, hosted by the ABC Collaborative, to learn about the technologies and business models needed to bring the U.S. building construction sector into an energy-efficient, decarbonized, affordable, modernized era. This free, online event is Wednesday, April 28, 2021, from 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. EDT. For more information on the summit, click here. 

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office launched the Advanced Building Construction Initiative in 2019 to promote energy-saving, low-carbon solutions for residential and commercial buildings. 
List your products in the Window Selection Tool

With over 20,000 visitors a month, the Efficient Windows Collaborative (EWC) offers consumers all the information they need to find new or replacement energy-efficient windows.

Now that the EWC is powered by the NFRC, all residential manufacturers who have certified products that meet Energy Star criteria for at least one climate zone can have their products listed in the Window Selection Tool (WST), making it easy for consumers to find your products.

Click here to enroll in the WST.
Let Us Know: Do you Plan to Attend the Fall Membership Meeting in Atlanta? 
It’s not too early to mark your calendars for NFRC’s Fall Membership Meeting in Atlanta from Oct. 25-27, 2021. Following guidance from public health officials and the CDC, plans are underway to convene in person to continue advancing the fenestration industry.

To help us in our planning, please take a moment to RSVP. Your RSVP is not your registration and does not commit you to attending, or not attending. We want to know whether people are ready to travel and attend in-person meetings.

And in case you missed the Spring Committee Virtual Meeting, you can find the presentations here.
Become a Sustainability Sponsor Today

Share with NFRC your company's commitment to sustainability! Share your organization’s sustainability efforts by completing the member spotlight form. It’s not too late to learn how your company can support NFRC’s sustainability efforts with exclusive 2021 Sustainability Sponsorship opportunities. For more information, contact NFRC’s Sustainability Manager Jeremy Browning at jbrowning@nfrc.org. 
Thanks to NFRC’s Sustainability Sponsors!  
 
NFRC is excited to recognize our newest sustainability sponsors! We thank the following sponsors for supporting our sustainability efforts.
Webinars/Meetings




  • NFRC 2021 Fall Membership Meeting -- October 25 - 27, 2021 - Atlanta, GA (save the date)

NFRC envisions a future where every window, door, and skylight purchase decision is made using the
NFRC label to evaluate energy performance.